parson

American  

[pahr-suhn] / ˈpɑr sən /

noun

1. a member of the clergy, especially a Protestant minister; pastor; rector.

2. the holder or incumbent of a parochial benefice, especially an Anglican.

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parson British  

/ ˈpɑːsən, pɑːˈsɒnɪk /

noun

1. a parish priest in the Church of England, formerly applied only to those who held ecclesiastical benefices

2. any clergyman

3. a nonconformist minister

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Other Word Forms

• parsonic adjective
• parsonical adjective
• parsonically adverb
• parsonish adjective
• parsonlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of parson

1200–50; Middle English persone < Medieval Latin persōna parish priest, Latin: personage. See person

Example Sentences

This parson’s son wrote some of the finest poems in the history of the language while also achieving international fame and substantial wealth.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her work as a parson’s wife opposite Maurice Evans in a well-received 1950 Broadway revival of George Bernard Shaw’s “The Devil’s Disciple” landed her on the cover of Life magazine — a major publicity coup.

From Washington Post

He spoke with the easy grace of a country parson, but no fire and brimstone emanated from his pulpit as he calmly but bracingly recounted what he said was his mother’s family history.

From New York Times

A quiet wedding we had: he and I, the parson and clerk, were alone present.

From Literature

I looked at his back, prim as a parson’s, tried to imagine the two of them together.

From Literature