presbyterian

American  

[prez-bi-teer-ee-uhn, pres-] / ˌprɛz bɪˈtɪər i ən, ˌprɛs- /

adjective

1. pertaining to or based on the principle of ecclesiastical government by presbyters or presbyteries.

2. (initial capital letter) designating or pertaining to various churches having this form of government and professing more or less modified forms of Calvinism.

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noun

1. (initial capital letter) a member of a Presbyterian church; a person who supports Presbyterianism.

Presbyterian ¹ British  

/ ˌprɛzbɪˈtɪərɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to any of various Protestant Churches governed by presbyters or lay elders and adhering to various modified forms of Calvinism

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noun

1. a member of a Presbyterian Church

presbyterian ² British  

/ ˌprɛzbɪˈtɪərɪən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating Church government by presbyters or lay elders

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noun

1. an upholder of this type of Church government

Other Word Forms

• Presbyterianism noun
• non-Presbyterian adjective
• presbyterianism noun
• presbyterianistic adjective
• pro-Presbyterian adjective
• pseudo-Presbyterian adjective

Etymology

Origin of presbyterian

First recorded in 1635–45; presbytery + -an

Example Sentences

The hymn, reprinted in hymnbooks since the late 18th century, is still sung by many Presbyterian and Baptist congregations in the U.S. and the U.K.

From The Wall Street Journal

The pair spent time in counties Down and Londonderry, in the summer outreach teams at Ballysally Presbyterian Church and First Saintfield Presbyterian Church.

From BBC

Her grandfather was a deacon and mother played an organ in the Presbyterian chapel.

From BBC

Doctors at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York first noticed Schlossberg’s irregular white blood cell count hours after she gave birth to her second child in May 2024, according to the essay.

From The Wall Street Journal

The report and its proposals will be debated by Presbyterian ministers and elders at a special meeting in Belfast on Thursday of the church's decision-making General Assembly.

From BBC