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
Despite the fall, Francis held five meetings on Thursday according to the Vatican, including with Alvaro Lario, the President of the International Fund of Agricultural Development, and priests from an Argentine college based in Rome.
—
Christopher Lamb, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
Visitation for a retired priest of the Chicago Archdiocese who died last week will take place at Kurtz Memorial Chapel on Friday, according to the archdiocese.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
And the adults come as various professionals—cop, nurse, priest, young man (office worker?), young woman (librarian?), construction worker, farmer, teacher (with telltale ruler in hand), male and female students (holding books), doctor, carpenter.
—Han Ong, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2025
At the time, Carter's administration was asking Congress to approve some $5 million in military aid to assist in the fight against leftist guerrillas, despite several reports of right-wing death squads carrying out extrajudicial killings against union organizers, teachers and priests.
—Jasmine Romero, NPR, 10 Jan. 2025
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Christopher Lamb, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
Visitation for a retired priest of the Chicago Archdiocese who died last week will take place at Kurtz Memorial Chapel on Friday, according to the archdiocese.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2025
And the adults come as various professionals—cop, nurse, priest, young man (office worker?), young woman (librarian?), construction worker, farmer, teacher (with telltale ruler in hand), male and female students (holding books), doctor, carpenter.
—Han Ong, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2025
At the time, Carter's administration was asking Congress to approve some $5 million in military aid to assist in the fight against leftist guerrillas, despite several reports of right-wing death squads carrying out extrajudicial killings against union organizers, teachers and priests.
—Jasmine Romero, NPR, 10 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for priest
Dictionary Entries Near priest
Cite this Entry
“Priest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priest. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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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