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
The church’s priest, Father Mikel Bock, said the date difference is steeped in the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
—
Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
Advertisement Boyle, a member of the Jesuit order for 50 years and a priest for 38 years, has received other major awards such as the California Peace Prize and was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for priest 
Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
Advertisement Boyle, a member of the Jesuit order for 50 years and a priest for 38 years, has received other major awards such as the California Peace Prize and was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for priest
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Priest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priest. Accessed 8 May. 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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