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:
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, pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his last sermon.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
Congregants, calling themselves walking worshipers, strolled through the streets surrounding the shuttered church as they followed along with the sermon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
Ben only caught snatches of the sermon even though he tried hard to eliminate this forbidden yet splendid mirage by concentrating on the words of the priest.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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
The pastor possesses the charisma of an American televangelist, with expressions that shift dramatically with the tone of his sermons.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
While only 1 in 10 say they are comfortable using AI to write sermons, 2 in 5 see its merits for preparation and research.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
In sermons seen by the BBC, the London ICC - which is the largest - said it was aiming for 400 "disciples" by the end of 2025.
From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026
When I heard his voice in speeches and sermons broadcast all over the country on the Catholic radio station, it seemed that it was as much our voice, our thoughts, as Titid’s.
From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple
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.
