prophet

noun

proph·​et ˈprä-fət 

1

: one who utters divinely inspired revelations: such as

a

often Prophet : the writer of one of the prophetic books of the Bible

b

Prophet : one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God's will

Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah

2

: one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight

especially : an inspired poet

3

: one who foretells future events : predictor

4

: an effective or leading spokesperson for a cause, doctrine, or group

5

Christian Science

a

: a spiritual seer

b

: disappearance of material sense before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth

prophethood

ˈprä-fət-ˌhu̇d 

noun

Synonyms of prophet

• diviner
• forecaster

Examples of prophet in a Sentence

the words of the prophet

an economist who is regarded by many as a reliable prophet of future developments in the global economy

Recent Examples on the Web

In our educational sessions, medical doctors were cited as sources alongside biblical prophets, reflecting the range of authorities Hallelujah dieters recognize. — Adrienne Krone, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2026

Feast celebrating the birth of the Jewish prophet who preached the imminence of God’s Final Judgment and baptized those who repented in self-preparation for it. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Last week, during a state banquet for Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at Windsor Castle, the King quoted a hadith, a saying of the prophet Muhammad, in Arabic. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 30 Oct. 2026

This overarching label encompassed Anabaptists, Baptists, Brownists, Levelers, Antinomians, Presbyterians, Ranters and many of the highly individual prophets and seers of 1640s Britain. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prophete, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin prophēta "spokesman or interpreter of a god" (Late Latin also prophētēs "revealer of God's will, foreteller of future events"), borrowed from Greek prophḗtēs "one who interprets the will of a god to humans, interpreter," (Septuagint) "revealer of God's will," (New Testament) "inspired preacher and teacher, foreteller of future events," from pro- pro- entry 1 + phē-, stem of phēmí, phánai "to speak, say" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at ban entry 1

Note: A few attestations in late Old English, apparently declined as a weak noun, are directly from Latin.

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prophet

• prophet of doom

Rhymes for prophet

• profit
• soffit
• nonprofit

Kids Definition

prophet

noun

proph·​et ˈpräf-ət 

1

: one who declares publicly a message that one believes has come from God or a god

2

: one who foretells future events