prophetess
Americannoun
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a woman who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration.
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a woman who foretells future events.
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a woman who is aspokesperson of some doctrine, cause, or movement.
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the wife or female companion of a prophet.
Gender
See -ess.
Etymology
Origin of prophetess
1250–1300; Middle English prophetesse < Old French < Late Latin prophētissa. See prophet, -ess
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 5-inch drawing depicts the right foot of the Libyan Sibyl, a blonde prophetess wearing a creamsicle gown painted onto the chapel ceiling’s eastern end.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026
Olive sees her as a prophetess of the new order, given proper coaching.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 6, 2018
“She has overturned heaven and earth for us,” a young prophetess announces.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 10, 2017
Greek myths narrate the failure of prediction: For the Trojan prophetess Cassandra, those in power found ways to ignore even her perfect prophecy.
From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2016
She refused all appeals and, like a black-veiled prophetess, declared Denmark cursed.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
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.
