revivalist

noun

re·​viv·​al·​ist ri-ˈvī-və-list How to pronounce revivalist (audio)
-ˈvīv-list
1
: one who conducts religious revivals
specifically : a member of the clergy who travels about to conduct revivals
2
: one who revives or restores something disused
revivalist adjective
revivalistic adjective

Examples of revivalist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Houthis initially began as a cultural revivalist movement in the 1990s for the Zaydi sect of Islam which, as of 2022, was practiced by approximately 35% of the Yemeni population. Anna Gordon, TIME, 12 Jan. 2024 If anything, the coup was the latest sign that the Muslim Brotherhood, the fraternal order to which Morsi belongs, has ceded its role as the vanguard of Islamist politics to the ultraconservative Salafis, adherents of a Sunni revivalist movement. William McCants, Foreign Affairs, 7 July 2013 Showtime is listed as 8 p.m. and swing/jazz revivalists Squirrel Nut Zippers are the opening act. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 31 Aug. 2023 This gave a boost to Hindu revivalist organizations, which had launched a popular movement claiming that the mosque had been built on the birthplace of the Hindu deity Ram and demanding that it be replaced by a temple. Kanchan Chandra, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2019 Sunday, the trad gospel-quartet revivalists the Harlem Gospel Travelers appear. Stuart Munro, BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2023 The 131-year-old building has its origins in revival and worship, built after riverboat captain Thomas Ryman experienced a religious conversion from a revivalist from Georgia, Sam Jones. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 29 May 2023 The last were initially known as revivalists of Mod, the youth movement that gave Williamson’s duo half of its name. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2023 The Sardines, an ad hoc band led by music director Kurt Cowling on keyboards and featuring singer Leah Gawel, play music originally performed and mostly composed by '90s lounge revivalists Combustible Edison. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'revivalist.' 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

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of revivalist was in 1820

Dictionary Entries Near revivalist

Cite this Entry

“Revivalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revivalist. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

revivalist

noun
re·​viv·​al·​ist ri-ˈvīv-(ə-)ləst How to pronounce revivalist (audio)
: one who conducts revivals

More from Merriam-Webster on revivalist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!