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Presbyterianism

American  
[prez-bi-teer-ee-uh-niz-uhm, pres-] / ˌprɛz bɪˈtɪər i əˌnɪz əm, ˌprɛs- /

noun

  1. church government by presbyters or elders, equal in rank and organized into graded administrative courts.

  2. the doctrines of Presbyterian churches.


Etymology

Origin of Presbyterianism

First recorded in 1635–45; presbyterian + -ism

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.

See Examples For:

Moved from the Lutheran Church to Presbyterianism, but still love Brother Martin the same.

From The Wall Street Journal May 7, 2026

This topic pulls together the Reformation, pro-slavery Presbyterianism and Christian Reconstructionism.

From Salon May 26, 2024

The last of the 13, Dwight Eisenhower, proved the Mainline’s influence by being baptized into Presbyterianism early in his presidency, like a 16th-century prince accepting the state religion to claim a vacant throne.

From New York Times Jan. 23, 2021

German migration brought Lutheran, German Reformed, and Pietist churches to the middle colonies, and the Scots-Irish took Presbyterianism wherever they went.

From Textbooks Jan. 18, 2018

In 1684 and 1685, many Scotch dissenters sought refuge in East New Jersey, the beginning of a movement which eventually made New Jersey one of the strongholds of Presbyterianism.

From The Colonization of North America 1492-1783 by Herbert Eugene Bolton

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