priest

[preest]

noun

1. a person whose office it is to perform religious rites, and especially to make sacrificial offerings.

2. (in Christian use)

   1. a person ordained to the sacerdotal or pastoral office; a member of the clergy; minister.

   2. (in hierarchical churches) a member of the clergy of the order next below that of bishop, authorized to carry out the Christian ministry.

3. a minister of any religion.

verb (used with object)

1. to ordain as a priest.

priest

/ priːst /

noun

1. Christianity a person ordained to act as a mediator between God and man in administering the sacraments, preaching, blessing, guiding, etc

2. (in episcopal Churches) a minister in the second grade of the hierarchy of holy orders, ranking below a bishop but above a deacon

3. a minister of any religion

4. Judaism a descendant of the family of Aaron who has certain privileges in the synagogue service

5. (in some non-Christian religions) an official who offers sacrifice on behalf of the people and performs other religious ceremonies

6. (sometimes capital) a variety of fancy pigeon having a bald pate with a crest or peak at the back of the head

7. angling a small club used to kill fish caught

verb

1. to make a priest; ordain

priest

1. One who is designated an authority on religious matters. In some churches, especially the Anglican Communion, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Roman Catholic Church, the ordained church leader who serves a congregation of believers is called a priest. The priests in these churches administer the sacraments, preach, and care for the needs of their congregations. (See also minister and pastor.)

Other Word Forms

• priestless adjective
• priestlike adjective
• antipriest adjective
• underpriest noun
• unpriestlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of priest¹

before 900; Middle English prest ( e ), priest, Old English prēost, ultimately < Late Latin presbyter presbyter

Word History and Origins

Origin of priest¹

Old English prēost, apparently from _presbyter ; related to Old High German prēster, Old French prestre

Example Sentences

The anticlericalism of the left, with its burning of churches and slaughter of priests, resulted in some of the worst atrocities of the war.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Then I take my seat next to Ma and listen intently as the priest begins the celebration.

Read more on Literature

The laundry Mama took in included that of a White Episcopal priest, Reverend Eder, the priest in charge at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

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Organizers say at least one of the arrestees was a 72-year-old priest who has participated in immigration vigils for more than a decade.

Read more on Salon

He earned his Ph.D. and then focused on victims of trauma, including war veterans, child-abuse survivors and men abused by priests as children.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cleric 
• elder 
• father 
• friar 
• lama 
• monk 
• preacher 
• rector