Philemon

American  

[fi-lee-muhn, fahy-] / fɪˈli mən, faɪ- /

noun

1. an Epistle written by Paul. Phil.

2. a person who was probably a convert of Paul and to whom this Epistle is addressed.

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Philemon ¹ British  

/ faɪˈliːmɒn /

noun

1. a Christian of Colossae whose escaped slave came to meet Paul

2. the book (in full The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Philemon ), asking Philemon to forgive the slave for escaping

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Philemon ² British  

/ faɪˈliːmɒn /

noun

1. Greek myth a poor Phrygian, who with his wife Baucis offered hospitality to the disguised Zeus and Hermes

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Example Sentences

The name comes from an estate built on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the early years of the 18th century by Philemon Hemsley, a wealthy merchant and tobacco planter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

The march “symbolizes freedom of expression and of opinion in our diverse country after 30 years of oppression to all kinds of Sudanese,” marcher Finlay Philemon said.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 26, 2019

Krista Lee Philemon, 22, reportedly leaped from a pontoon boat carrying several others at Lake Wateree Sunday and never resurfaced.

From Fox News • Jul. 25, 2019

The romantic image of Baucis and Philemon in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” growing in age together over centuries like intergrafted trees, is just that, Gubar concludes: romance.

From New York Times • Dec. 28, 2018

The old people exchanged a hurried whisper, then Philemon spoke.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton