Priest — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈprēst/

Meaning & Definition of Priest

Priest (noun)

  1. 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

Priest (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church

    "searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism"

    similar: clergyperson, cleric, clerical, clerk, deacon, divine, dominie, ecclesiastic, minister, preacher, reverend
    related: churchman, clergyman, father, Holy Joe (slang), padre, clergywoman, deaconess, priestess, abbot, archbishop, archpriest, bishop, dean, diocesan, monsignor, pope, prelate, presbyter, abbé, curate, curé, parson, pastor, rector, shepherd, vicar, chaplain, confessor, sky pilot, evangelist, missionary, missioner, missionizer, revivalist, friar, mendicant, monastic, monk, oblate, religious, high priest, high priestess
    opposite: layman, layperson, secular
    near: lay reader, lector

Related Entry: High priest (noun)

High priest is a different word from Priest. The synonyms below are for high priest, not for priest.

  1. a person who actively supports or favors a cause

    "the high priest of tax relief for the state's property owners"

    similar: advocate, advocator, apostle, backer, booster, champion, espouser, exponent, expounder, friend, gospeler, herald, hierophant, paladin, promoter, proponent, protagonist, supporter, true believer, tub-thumper, white knight
    related: loyalist, partisan, stalwart, adherent, cohort, disciple, follower, interpreter, applauder, cheerleader, encourager, fellow traveler
    opposite: adversary, antagonist, opponent
    near: enemy, foe, rival, belittler, critic, faultfinder

  2. one who brings an art or science to full realization

    "as the high priest of nouvelle cuisine, he was enormously influential in the food world"

    similar: exponent, expounder, guru, interpreter, practitioner
    related: dean, doyen, grand old man, ideologue, philosopher, theorist, advocate, apostle, backer, booster, champion, promoter, proponent, supporter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Priest

The most common words with a similar meaning to Priest:

clergyperson, cleric, clerical, clerk, deacon, divine, dominie, ecclesiastic, minister, preacher, reverend

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Priest

Words with the opposite meaning of Priest:

layman, layperson, secular

Related Words for Priest

churchman, clergyman, father, Holy Joe, padre, clergywoman, deaconess, priestess, abbot, archbishop, archpriest, bishop, dean, diocesan, monsignor, pope, prelate, presbyter, abbé, curate, curé, parson, pastor, rector, shepherd, vicar, chaplain, confessor, sky pilot, evangelist

Near Antonyms of Priest

lay reader, lector

Word Forms of Priest

Inflections: priests

Origin & Etymology of Priest

Middle English preist, from Old English prēost, ultimately from Late Latin presbyter presbyter

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Priest

Words & Phrases Containing Priest

priest-ridden, high priest, worker-priest

Frequently Asked Questions about Priest

What does "Priest" mean?

"Priest" means 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. As a noun, it is defined as: 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.

What is another word for "Priest"?

Other words for "Priest" include clergyperson, cleric, clerical, clerk, deacon, divine, dominie and ecclesiastic. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Priest" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Priest"?

There are 53 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Priest". Common alternatives include clergyperson, cleric, clerical, clerk, deacon, divine, dominie, ecclesiastic, minister and preacher.

What is the opposite of "Priest"?

Antonyms of "Priest" include layman, layperson and secular. Near antonyms include lay reader and lector.

How do you use "Priest" in a sentence?

Examples of "Priest" in a sentence: "searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism".

Is "Priest" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Priest" is a noun.

Is "Priest" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Priest" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Priest"?

"Priest" is pronounced /ˈprēst/.