sermon

noun

ser·​mon ˈsər-mən 

1

: a religious discourse delivered in public usually by a member of the clergy as a part of a worship service

2

: a speech on conduct or duty

sermonic

ˌsər-ˈmä-nik 

adjective

Synonyms

• lesson
• speech
• homily
• lecture

Examples of sermon in a Sentence

He preached a sermon on the importance of kindness.

Dad gave me a sermon yesterday about doing my homework.

Recent Examples on the Web

Further illustrating this gap, Virginia pastor Howard John-Wesley went over the weekend with a sermon that condemned Kirk's murder but warned against casting Kirk as an American hero. —Liam Adams, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025

Pushback While the White evangelical leaders with whom Kirk built relationships used their Sunday sermons to eulogize him and galvanize a fight for conservative causes, several pastors at Black churches pushed back. —Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025

Dream City Church Senior Pastor Luke Barnett called Kirk a patriot in his opening sermon, garnering robust applause. —Lauren De Young, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Wicks’ sermons tend toward the extreme fire-and-brimstone, vengeance-is-mine variety. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French sermun, from Medieval Latin sermon-, sermo, from Latin, speech, conversation, from serere to link together — more at series

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sermon

• birman
• burman
• ermine
• firman
• german
• kirman
• spermine
• termen
• termine
• vermin
• determine
• predetermine

Kids Definition

sermon

noun

ser·​mon ˈsər-mən 

1

: a public speech usually by a priest, minister, or rabbi for the purpose of giving religious instruction

2

: a speech on conduct or duty