priestess

noun

priest·​ess ˈprē-stəs How to pronounce priestess (audio)
1
: a woman authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion
2
: a woman regarded as a leader (as of a movement)

Examples of priestess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Once a kick-ass member of a mysteriously powerful order of priestesses, Lady Jessica dramatically saves her son’s life early in the film only to slowly turn into a glorified baby monitor. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 The art on the label is a vintage photo of a Burmese priestess kissing a snake, perhaps eluding to how difficult and site-specific Grenache is to make well. Kim Westerman, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Chalamet’s delicate features take on a haunted sharpness as Paul hopes to earn what his mother, the Bene Gesserit priestess Jessica, would rather manipulate into being by converting nonbelievers. Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024 On his behalf, his daughter, the priestess Enheduanna, used the moon to unite the leading god of Akkad (Inanna, the goddess of love) and the moon god of Sumer (Nanna). Rebecca Boyle, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2024 Arms control’s high priests and priestesses, and key senators such as Joe Biden and John Kerry, were apoplectic. John R. Bolton, National Review, 25 Jan. 2024 Every year, human resource professionals — the high priests and priestesses of the woke religion — recruit and hire a new crop of college graduates having been carefully groomed to embrace woke theology. Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 6 Jan. 2024 After bringing in a voodoo priestess to help her, it was revealed that ghost named Mrs. Spencer — a former resident and the late niece of financier J.P. Morgan — was haunting the home. Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 2 Jan. 2024 There are other players who prove more useful and more fascinating, like the African priestess Dr. Beehibe (Okwui Okpokwasili), who brings her root magic to bear on the demonic presence. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'priestess.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1654, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of priestess was in 1654

Dictionary Entries Near priestess

Cite this Entry

“Priestess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priestess. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

priestess

noun
priest·​ess ˈprē-stəs How to pronounce priestess (audio)
: a woman who is a priest

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