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

Like an evangelist giving an altar call, his bid is invitational in nature.

From Salon • Mar. 9, 2026

Off-screen, Chapin was an evangelist who shared her faith through public speaking, ministry and outreach, according to her website.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

“I’m an evangelist for smart economic development,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 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

He receives an appointment from the Belgian Evangelization Committee of the Associated Churches and starts work as an evangelist on February 1, 1879.

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

Related Words

• missionary
• pastor
• televangelist