plural priests
: someone who is authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God
specifically
: an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyperson ranking below a bishop and above a deacon
Synonyms
Examples of priest in a Sentence
He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest.
searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism
Recent Examples on the Web
In August 2023, the nuns rejected the bishop’s authority in a dispute over his investigation into reports their prioress, the Rev. Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, broke her chastity vow with a priest.
—
Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2024
Thomas and three brothers attended Sacred Heart Seminary, a secondary school, though only Thomas continued on to become a priest.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Militarization decreased the status of women’s labor, and unlike the complementary gender structures that developed in Native North America, patriarchy was the basis of power in Western Europe, from the pope and kings to lords and priests, down to husbands within households.
—Kathleen Duval, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
This liturgy, in which the priest and congregation face east together, was celebrated by Roman Catholics until the Mass of Paul VI was introduced in 1969 and the Traditional Latin Mass was greatly restricted.
—Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2024
Share [Findings] Mount Vesuvius turned a Herculaneum man’s brain to glass, according to archaeologists, who also revived the voice of a priest from the reign of Ramesses XI and determined that a mummy in the Ulster Museum had been stabbed in the back.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
Other priests have reinterpreted Christian doctrine in ways that recall the Crusades.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
The archdiocese has said the publicity would include posting links about the deadline on parish and Catholic school websites and in prominent locations in their buildings, putting notices in church bulletins, and having priests speak about the deadline during Mass at least twice.
—Steve Thompson, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, of Detroit, the controversial Catholic priest, was a study in contrasts.
—Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2024
Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2024
Thomas and three brothers attended Sacred Heart Seminary, a secondary school, though only Thomas continued on to become a priest.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
Militarization decreased the status of women’s labor, and unlike the complementary gender structures that developed in Native North America, patriarchy was the basis of power in Western Europe, from the pope and kings to lords and priests, down to husbands within households.
—Kathleen Duval, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
This liturgy, in which the priest and congregation face east together, was celebrated by Roman Catholics until the Mass of Paul VI was introduced in 1969 and the Traditional Latin Mass was greatly restricted.
—Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 29 Mar. 2024
Share [Findings] Mount Vesuvius turned a Herculaneum man’s brain to glass, according to archaeologists, who also revived the voice of a priest from the reign of Ramesses XI and determined that a mummy in the Ulster Museum had been stabbed in the back.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
Other priests have reinterpreted Christian doctrine in ways that recall the Crusades.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
The archdiocese has said the publicity would include posting links about the deadline on parish and Catholic school websites and in prominent locations in their buildings, putting notices in church bulletins, and having priests speak about the deadline during Mass at least twice.
—Steve Thompson, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, of Detroit, the controversial Catholic priest, was a study in contrasts.
—Georgea Kovanis, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'priest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near priest
Cite this Entry
“Priest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priest. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
priest
noun
: a person who has the authority to lead or perform religious ceremonies
Etymology
Old English prēost "priest," derived from Latin presbyter "priest, elder," from Greek presbyteros, comparative form of presbys "old man, elder"
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