evangelist

[ih-van-juh-list]

noun

1. a Protestant minister or layperson who serves as an itinerant or special preacher, especially a revivalist.

2. a preacher of the gospel.

3. (initial capital letter),  any of the writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) of the four Gospels.

4. (in the primitive church) a person who first brought the gospel to a city or region.

5. (initial capital letter),  a patriarch.

6. a person marked by evangelical enthusiasm for or support of any cause.

evangelist

¹

/ ɪˈvændʒɪlɪst /

noun

1. an occasional preacher, sometimes itinerant and often preaching at meetings in the open air

2. a preacher of the Christian gospel

3. any zealous advocate of a cause

4. another word for revivalist

Evangelist

²

/ ɪˈvændʒɪlɪst /

noun

1. any of the writers of the New Testament Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John

2. a senior official or dignitary of the Mormon Church

Word History and Origins

Origin of evangelist¹

1125–75; Middle English evangeliste < Latin evangelista < Greek euangelistḗs. See evangel ¹, -ist

Example Sentences

An avowed Kolkata evangelist, he wanted to paint the dome and raised the money for it from friends and associates.

From BBC

At rallies, Gbagbo often invoked her evangelist Christian faith, firing off spirited, eloquent speeches in support of her husband.

From BBC

And now, the mythology — the endless possibilities, the new beginnings that inspired countless entrepreneurs, evangelists and everyday dreamers — seems tired.

From Los Angeles Times

Their rejection could be received with politeness and respect by the evangelist.

From Salon

“I became something of an evangelist for it, because it’s lifesaving,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• missionary 
• pastor 
• televangelist