flagellant

[ flaj-uh-luhnt, fluh-jel-uhnt ]

noun
  1. a person who flagellates or scourges their own body for religious discipline.

  2. a person who derives sexual pleasure from whipping or being whipped by another person.

  1. (often initial capital letter) one of a medieval European sect of fanatics who practiced scourging in public.

adjective
  1. severely criticizing: a flagellant attack on the opposition party.

Origin of flagellant

1
First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin flagellant- (stem of flagellāns ) “whipping,” present participle of flagellāre; see flagellum, -ant

Other words from flagellant

  • flag·el·lant·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use flagellant in a sentence

  • They speak as if he's getting up a sort of union, something like those Flagellants—sects, that's the name!

    Mother | Maksim Gorky
  • As a special outgrowth of this contempt of the body we have the disgusting discipline of the flagellants and other ascetics.

  • A sect of fanatics, called the Flagellants, arose and wandered over all parts of Europe.

  • Ill-educated Antipodes views mankind only as excoriators of his back, and general flagellants.

    Mount Rainier | Various
  • There is no lack of dramatic elements, for the horrors of plague, hanging, flagellants and execution are shown upon the stage.

    August Strindberg, the Spirit of Revolt | L. (Lizzy) Lind-af-Hageby

British Dictionary definitions for flagellant

flagellant

flagellator (ˈflædʒɪˌleɪtə)

/ (ˈflædʒɪlənt, fləˈdʒɛlənt) /


noun
  1. a person who whips himself or others either as part of a religious penance or for sexual gratification

  2. (often capital) (in medieval Europe) a member of a religious sect who whipped themselves in public

Origin of flagellant

1
C16: from Latin flagellāre to whip, from flagellum

Derived forms of flagellant

  • flagellantism, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012