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

Philemon Charles, a carpenter, said the top necessity was shelter.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 24, 2021

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

Philemon T. Herbert sauntered into the Willard Hotel in search of breakfast.

From Washington Post • Jun. 23, 2018

I was drawn to the stories of Atalanta, Philemon and Bacchus, Odysseus and the Trojan War, Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane