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

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

A career in science had usurped his plan to work as a country parson who dabbled in natural history.

From New York Times