evangelist

American  

[ih-van-juh-list] / ɪˈvæn dʒə lɪst /

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.

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evangelist ¹ British  

/ 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

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Evangelist ² British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of evangelist

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

Example Sentences

Notably, it was granted to civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks in 2005 and evangelist Billy Graham in 2018.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

He did hilarious impressions of people like his cousin Fagin Springer, a singing evangelist from Virginia, and the tough old cowhands on his uncle’s Montana ranch.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

It was founded in Ireland by a Scottish evangelist in 1897 and is built around ministers - referred to by the church as workers - spreading New Testament teachings through word-of-mouth.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

Blue Owl, in particular, became an evangelist for “recurring-revenue” lending.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 3, 2026

Vincent, the erstwhile evangelist, now living with a baker, spending his time drawing.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

Related Words

• missionary
• pastor
• televangelist