deacon

noun

dea·​con ˈdē-kən How to pronounce deacon (audio)
plural deacons
: a subordinate officer in a Christian church: such as
a
: a Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox cleric ranking next below a priest
b
: one of the laity elected by a church with congregational polity to serve in worship, in pastoral care, and on administrative committees
c
: a Mormon in the lowest grade of the Aaronic priesthood

Examples of deacon in a Sentence

my cousin was married by his uncle, who is also a deacon in his church
Recent Examples on the Web At least nine deacons have resigned since Feb. 4, one of the former deacons said. Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 10 Mar. 2024 Jimmy deepened his involvement at St. Phillips, serving as an ordained deacon and Sunday school teacher. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024 Attendees have a broad mandate to discuss the future of the church, including ordaining women as deacons and outreach to L.G.B.T.Q. people. Ruth Graham Jamie Kelter Davis, New York Times, 24 Oct. 2023 Her father was a deacon and her mother a minister in their hometown of Simpsonville, S.C. Helena Andrews-Dyer, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024 The family of a 62-year-old church deacon who died after an Atlanta police officer used a stun gun on him filed a federal civil rights lawsuit Thursday. USA TODAY, 19 Jan. 2024 Kellen Flatt, 28, said Catholicism was at the center of her childhood, especially with her grandfather being a deacon at her local church in Marietta, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb. Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 20 Dec. 2023 Video showing a traffic stop that led to the death of a 62-year-old Black deacon could be publicly released as early as Thursday, a lawyer for the Atlanta man's relatives said Monday after a meeting with prosecutors. CBS News, 10 Oct. 2023 In the news Pope Francis, 87, canceled a meeting with Rome deacons as a precaution after coming down with mild flu, the Vatican press office said in a short statement, without adding further details. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deacon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dekene, from Old English dēacon, from Late Latin diaconus, from Greek diakonos, literally, servant, from dia- + -konos (akin to enkonein to be active); perhaps akin to Latin conari to attempt

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deacon was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near deacon

Cite this Entry

“Deacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deacon. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deacon

noun
dea·​con ˈdē-kən How to pronounce deacon (audio)
1
: a member of the Christian clergy next below a priest
2
: a church member in various Christian churches who has special duties

More from Merriam-Webster on deacon

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