priest

American  

[preest] / prist /

noun

• priests
  plural

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.

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verb (used with object)

1. to ordain as a priest.

priest British  

/ 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

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verb

1. to make a priest; ordain

priest Cultural  

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.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• priests
  plural

Etymology

Origin of priest

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

Explanation

A priest is a religious figure who performs ceremonies, particularly in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Orthodox church. During a Catholic baptism, a priest sprinkles holy water on a baby's head. Though priests are often thought of as Christian, there are other religions with priests, including some branches of Shintoism and Hinduism. Priests often lead religious services, perform weddings and other religious rites, and in many cases work full time for their churches. Priest comes from the Old English prēost, and it shares a root with Presbyterian, the Greek presbyteros, "an elder."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

priest priests

The incidents allegedly took place in Staffordshire between February 2000 and February 2001, when Oakley was in his mid-40s working as a Catholic priest.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

The property is known for its priest holes and secret hiding places, which were used to shelter persecuted Catholics during the 1590s.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

"We hope this place will bear the fruits of a deeper return to faith, or at least help people deepen their faith," said the parish priest Marek Mrowczynski.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

Reilly’s relationship with Eugene Boyle, a Bay Area Catholic priest and liberal activist known for supporting the Civil Rights Movement, shaped his political views.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

We watch as these elders, once proud Jews, walk slowly behind the priest, wanting nothing but a bowl of soup and a bed after the miserable time on the road.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

Moretta is 10 years past the customary retirement age for Catholic priests.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

Unfortunately, I have always struggled with disappointing authority figures: professors, bosses, priests, parents — and, apparently, severe-bunned bakers.

From Salon ● Aug. 4, 2026

Under this traditional model, kings, priests, and other powerful leaders gained control of wealth and resources, causing the divide between rich and poor to expand.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026

Asia's only dedicated exorcism centre -- designed to train not only Philippine priests but clergy from across the region -- sits just off a busy thoroughfare in Metro Manila.

From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 2026

After speeches by Buddhist priests and the mayor, hundreds of white doves were freed from their cages.

From "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes" by Eleanor Coerr

Related Words

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