theologian

noun

theo·​lo·​gian ˌthē-ə-ˈlō-jən How to pronounce theologian (audio)
: a specialist in theology

Examples of theologian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web By the end of the second century, early Christian theologians like St. Clement of Alexandria described two fires: one that destroys and one that sanctifies. Lanta Davis and Vince Reighard, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2024 Robinson, who has taught Bible classes and preached at her church in Iowa City, Iowa, is a learned lay theologian of the Calvinist variety. Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2024 Some bishops conferences and theologians rejected the document, saying Catholics should honor their own consciences. Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 12 Jan. 2024 Medieval theologians took the insatiable lusts of women very seriously: as a friend pointed out, the procedure was apparently considered two thirds as bad as accidentally killing one’s baby, which is discussed two items down in the Decretum, for which three years of penance were prescribed. Mary Wellesley, The New York Review of Books, 15 Feb. 2024 But until recently, consciousness was the purview of theologians and philosophers. Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024 Writing in the late eighth and early ninth centuries C.E., the Muslim theologian helped shape the Islamic legal tradition. Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 May 2023 Several opposition parties boycotted Monday’s event, and some high-ranking Hindu theologians, known as the Shankaracharyas, rebuked the prime minister for consecrating an unfinished temple in violation of Hindu scripture and scheduling a religious event in the lead-up to elections. Anant Gupta, Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2024 Ideas By Jared Stacy and Andrew Whitehead January 5, 2024 2:14 PM EST Stacy is an American ethicist and theologian currently residing at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. TIME, 5 Jan. 2024

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

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of theologian was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near theologian

Cite this Entry

“Theologian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theologian. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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