preacher
noun
a person whose occupation or function it is to preach the gospel.
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preacher
1
British
/ ˈpriːtʃə /
noun
-
a person who has the calling and function of preaching the Christian Gospel, esp a Protestant clergyman
-
a person who preaches
Preacher
2
British
/ ˈpriːtʃə /
noun
Etymology
Origin of preacher
1175–1225; Middle English precho ( u ) r < Old French prech ( e ) or, earlier preëch ( e ) or < Late Latin praedicātor. See preach, -or 2
Explanation
A preacher is a Christian religious leader. On Sundays, preachers deliver sermons in churches. While it's possible to preach, or proclaim publicly, about non-religious topics, you're most likely to find the word preacher describing an evangelist Christian minister or pastor. There are also informal street preachers who preach the gospel to people who walk by. Preacher comes from the Latin word praedicatorem, "public praiser," or "proclaimer."
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.
The preacher, they said, had been curing the ill through prayer.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Then there’s Paula White, a charismatic preacher who has long been close to Trump.
From Salon • May 15, 2026
As it happens, the preacher is an online comedian named Louisa Melcher, and the sermon is one of her skits.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
Emily says the real Eric was very different to the pious preacher he portrayed himself to be.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
“Still, the nerve of That Woman ain’t got no limits. She played all eight verses, right down to the a-men. But the preacher made certain sure she didn’t get to do it agin.”
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
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.
