exorcist
Americannoun
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a person who practices exorcism.
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Roman Catholic Church.
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a member of the second-ranking of the four minor orders.
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the order itself.
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Etymology
Origin of exorcist
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin exorcista < Greek exorkistḗs. See exorcism, -ist
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This ritual lasted an entire night and involved burning small figures made of wax and clay while an exorcist recited specific incantations.
From Science Daily • May 5, 2026
"A bit like ghostbusting, that sort of thing, and a bit of an exorcist as well. Although, we don’t very often do the exorcism, certainly not of people."
From BBC • Oct. 31, 2024
“The Exorcism” starts from an instantly compelling premise: On the set of a horror movie about an exorcist, demons lurk.
From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2024
Writing in Catholic Exchange three years ago, famed exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth recalled that "While there can be extremely violent situations or truly remarkable displays" within an exorcism, the process itself is pretty straightforward.
From Salon • Oct. 8, 2023
I had expected us to root out the exorcist within the shuls and tenements of Maxwell Street, but Frankie surprised me by hailing a carriage that took us to Chicago’s outskirts.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
