sermon
Americannoun
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a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction or exhortation, especially one based on a text of Scripture and delivered by a member of the clergy as part of a religious service.
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any serious speech, discourse, or exhortation, especially on a moral issue.
- Synonyms:
- lecture
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a long, tedious speech.
noun
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an address of religious instruction or exhortation, often based on a passage from the Bible, esp one delivered during a church service
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a written version of such an address
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a serious speech, esp one administering reproof
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sermon
1150–1200; Middle English < Medieval Latin sermōn- (stem of sermō ) speech from pulpit, Latin: discourse, equivalent to ser- (base of serere to link up, organize) + -mōn- noun suffix
Compare meaning
How does sermon compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A sermon is a speech, usually religious in nature, given by a priest, preacher, rabbi, or other religious leader as part of a service. Although most sermons focus on Bible passages, you can use the word sermon more generally to refer to any speech that contains a moral lesson. Sports coaches are known to deliver moving sermons, as are teachers and camp counselors. But if you come in late, after missing your curfew, the last thing you want to hear is a sermon by your mom on the importance of keeping your word.
Vocabulary lists containing sermon
Because of Winn-Dixie
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My Life with the Chimpanzees
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Dear Martin
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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:
Two years ago, rushing to finish a slide for a sermon on a South Pacific missionary, he dropped in an AI-generated image without checking it closely.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Turkey's religious affairs directorate mentioned the stand-up show, without naming Göktaş, in its weekly sermon on Friday which is read out in all the country's mosques.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
On Tuesday, pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his last sermon, enduring temperatures of 45C.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
On Tuesday, the climax of the hajj is the gathering on Mount Arafat, about 10 kilometres from Mina, where it is believed the Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon.
From Barron's ● May 25, 2026
I left the station on, and before long a preacher began a sermon.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
When the state was slow to act, conservative preachers’ sermons were cruel and much of the country looked away, these spaces helped people endure.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
Plus, pastors are turning to AI to write sermons, and the World Cup final is here.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
His father was a Southern Baptist minister, and his Sunday morning sermons were broadcast on the radio in the afternoons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
He’s given sermons on the doubts he felt about Ahmad after the Oklahoma City bombing.
From Slate ● Apr. 19, 2026
I like the sermons, when the priest tells a story about how the Bible relates to life.
From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy
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.
