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revivalist

American  
[ri-vahy-vuh-list] / rɪˈvaɪ və lɪst /

noun

  1. a person, especially a member of the clergy, who promotes or holds religious revivals.

  2. a person who revives former customs, methods, etc.


revivalist British  
/ rɪˈvaɪvəlɪst /

noun

  1. a person who holds, promotes, or presides over religious revivals

  2. a person who revives customs, institutions, ideas, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characterizing revivalism or religious revivals

    a revivalist meeting

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of revivalist

First recorded in 1810–20; revival + -ist

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:

Tapping that frustration, Al-Houthi’s older brother, Hussein, launched a revivalist movement that called for driving out Western influences and supporting Palestinians.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 3, 2025

They claimed that this moment would eventually bring about a “Great Awakening,” a reference to the religious revivalist movements of the 18th and 19th centuries.

From Salon Jul. 21, 2025

In 2022, this San Diego trio brought a revivalist blend of Chicano soul, doo-wop and funk back to music’s forefront.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 9, 2025

The United Methodist Church traces its roots to 18th century revivalist John Wesley and has long emphasized Christian piety, evangelism and social service.

From Seattle Times Apr. 13, 2024

Modal melodies, revivalist spirituals, the call-and-response or ‘holler’ songs of African slaves: all of these went into the mixing pot of the early Blues.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

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