churchwarden

noun

church·​war·​den ˈchərch-ˌwȯr-dᵊn How to pronounce churchwarden (audio)
1
: one of two lay parish officers in Anglican churches with responsibility especially for parish property and alms
2
: a long-stemmed clay pipe

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of churchwarden was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Churchwarden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/churchwarden. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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