altar boy
noun
1
: a boy who assists the celebrant in a liturgical service
2
chiefly US
: a morally pure and virtuous person
No one expects … the trendsetter and party animal to become an altar boy.—
Johnnie L. Roberts
—typically used in negative constructions to describe a man whose behavior is not entirely admirable or blamelessJohnnie L. RobertsA long time ago she married a man who turns out, by his own admission, to be somewhat dishonest—not a killer, not a dope peddler, but no altar boy, either.—Richard Cohen
Richard CohenExamples of altar boy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Former altar boy Jimmy Kimmel also noted the religiosity of last night’s address.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
The story begins after a young altar boy’s tragic death by suicide in a local church.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025
The claim seems more aspirational than accurate, maybe even defensive—the altar boy claiming his right to the transfiguring blaze.
—Christian Wiman, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
The mural depicts a long procession, with clergy and altar boys, at both the annual St. Anthony and St. Gabriel festivals.
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 24 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for altar boy
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Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
The story begins after a young altar boy’s tragic death by suicide in a local church.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025
The claim seems more aspirational than accurate, maybe even defensive—the altar boy claiming his right to the transfiguring blaze.
—Christian Wiman, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
The mural depicts a long procession, with clergy and altar boys, at both the annual St. Anthony and St. Gabriel festivals.
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 24 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for altar boy
Cite this Entry
“Altar boy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/altar%20boy. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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