plural deacons
: a subordinate officer in a Christian church: such as
a
: a Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox cleric ranking next below a priest
b
: one of the laity elected by a church with congregational polity to serve in worship, in pastoral care, and on administrative committees
c
: a Mormon in the lowest grade of the Aaronic priesthood
Examples of deacon in a Sentence
my cousin was married by his uncle, who is also a deacon in his church
Recent Examples on the Web
As a Lutheran deacon, Ross Murray, who’s the vice president of education and training at the GLAAD Media Institute, spends a lot of time working with LGBTQ+ teenagers.
—
Angela Haupt, Time, 18 June 2025
On April 30, the Toms River Township Council placed an ordinance on its agenda to condemn the church's 10-acre site, which includes the parish house, auditorium, school, sanctuary and deacon’s residence, under its eminent domain power.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2025
The other symbolically important moment of the Mass was the representational rite of obedience to Leo, performed by cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, a Peruvian married couple and two young people.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
Reforms on the table include how to give greater roles to women in the Catholic Church, including ordaining them as deacons, and the greater inclusion of non-clergy members in governance and decision making.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deacon
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Angela Haupt, Time, 18 June 2025
On April 30, the Toms River Township Council placed an ordinance on its agenda to condemn the church's 10-acre site, which includes the parish house, auditorium, school, sanctuary and deacon’s residence, under its eminent domain power.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2025
The other symbolically important moment of the Mass was the representational rite of obedience to Leo, performed by cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons, nuns, a Peruvian married couple and two young people.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
Reforms on the table include how to give greater roles to women in the Catholic Church, including ordaining them as deacons, and the greater inclusion of non-clergy members in governance and decision making.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deacon
Cite this Entry
“Deacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deacon. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deacon
noun
dea·con
ˈdē-kən 
1
: a member of the Christian clergy next below a priest
2
: a church member in various Christian churches who has special duties
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share