pastor
Americannoun
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a minister or priest in charge of a church.
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a person having spiritual care of a number of persons.
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Ornithology. any of various starlings, especially Sturnus roseus rosy pastor of Europe and Asia.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a clergyman or priest in charge of a congregation
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a person who exercises spiritual guidance over a number of people
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an archaic word for shepherd
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Also called: rosy pastor. a S Asian starling, Sturnus roseus, having glossy black head and wings and a pale pink body
Other Word Forms
- pastorless adjective
- pastorlike adjective
- pastorly adjective
- pastorship noun
- subpastor noun
Etymology
Origin of pastor
1325–75; < Latin pāstor shepherd, literally, feeder, equivalent to pās-, base of pāscere to put to pasture, feed + -tor -tor; replacing Middle English pastour < Anglo-French
Explanation
A pastor is someone with the authority to lead religious services. Pastors lead church services and help others worship. Pastor is a religious title used mostly in Christian churches. The pastor is a leader within a church who has been ordained and therefore given the authority to conduct religious services. The pastor leads Sunday mass and other types of rituals, such as funerals. Members of the congregation may seek a pastor for advice. Within a religious community, a pastor is someone respected very much.
Vocabulary lists containing pastor
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"The Red Shoes" by Hans Christian Andersen
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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.
A pastor has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after a man died during a baptism ceremony in Birmingham.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
DeShazier is the director of experiential education and affiliate faculty at McCormick Theological Institute, and senior pastor at University Church Chicago in Hyde Park.
From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026
The pastor says the online audience typically comprises Persian speakers from roughly a dozen countries including Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan and the United Kingdom.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
The arrest of pastor Ezra Jin has drawn criticism from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and members of Congress.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
He had complete access without the church pastor knowing it.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
