evangelical

adjective evan·gel·i·cal \ ˌē-ˌvan-ˈje-li-kəl , ˌe-vən- \

variants: or less commonly evangelic play \ˌē-ˌvan-ˈje-lik, ˌe-vən-\

Definition of evangelical

1 :of, relating to, or being in agreement with the Christian gospel especially as it is presented in the four Gospels

2 :protestant

3 :emphasizing salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, and the importance of preaching as contrasted with ritual

4 a capitalized :of or relating to the Evangelical Church in Germany

b often capitalized :of, adhering to, or marked by fundamentalism :fundamentalist

c often capitalized :low church

5 :marked by militant or crusading zeal :evangelistic

the evangelical ardor of the movement's leaders
—Amos Vogel

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Evangelicalism

play \ˌē-ˌvan-ˈje-li-kə-ˌli-zəm, ˌe-vən-\ noun

—

evangelically

play \ˌē-ˌvan-ˈje-li-k(ə-)lē, ˌe-vən-\ adverb

See evangelical defined for English-language learners

See evangelical defined for kids

Examples of evangelical in a Sentence

She is an evangelical Christian.
He spoke about the project with evangelical zeal.

Recent Examples of evangelical from the Web

An evangelical Christian ministry is suing the Southern Poverty Law Center for calling the ministry a hate group because of its stance against LGBT rights.

— adam darby, kansascity, "Christian ministry labeled as a hate group is suing SPLC to ‘right a terrible wrong’," 27 Aug. 2017
Perhaps the most prominent operation in North Korea run by Americans is a university for 600 students started by evangelical Christians.

— elizabeth dias, Time, "The 200 Americans Living in North Korea Have Little Time Left to Leave," 24 Aug. 2017
Evangelical churches might feel pressure to liberalize in order to appeal to younger Evangelicals.

— jeff cimmino, National Review, "For Evangelicals, the Marriage Debate Is Just Beginning," 20 July 2017
The Washington Post's Cleve Wootson reports that a photo featuring evangelical Christians laying their hands on the president and praying has received criticism from anti-Trump members of the faith.

— dan sweeney, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Collusion country," 17 July 2017
Vice President Mike Pence, whose evangelical roots are well-known, is just about the only person recognizable in the image.

— hilary weaver, Vanities, "Donald Trump’s Oval Office Prayer Circle, Explained," 12 July 2017
Moore has universal name ID and a hardcore conservative evangelical following.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Will Trump Jump Into Alabama’s Crazy Senate Primary?," 10 July 2017
Prosecutors said in the complaint that Hobby Lobby, whose evangelical Christian owners have long maintained an interest in the biblical Middle East, began in 2009 to assemble a collection of cultural artifacts from the Fertile Crescent.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "The Most Interesting Story of the Day Has Nothing to Do with Trump," 6 July 2017
Prosecutors said in the complaint that Hobby Lobby, whose evangelical Christian owners have long maintained an interest in the biblical Middle East, began in 2009 to assemble a collection of cultural artifacts from the Fertile Crescent.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "The Most Interesting Story of the Day Has Nothing to Do with Trump," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'evangelical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of evangelical

1531

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

evangelical

noun, often capitalized

Definition of evangelical

:one holding evangelical principles or belonging to an evangelical party or church

Recent Examples of evangelical from the Web

As president, Trump has had to choose sides on divisive social issues, and time and time again, he’s gone with what white evangelicals want.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "Cultural Warlord Trump Goes on the Offensive," 26 Aug. 2017
Evangelicals have been thrilled by his appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court and by the president’s pledge to strengthen religious liberty protections.

— rachel zoll, The Seattle Times, "Evangelical advisers stay with Trump as others criticize him," 18 Aug. 2017
Evangelical churches might feel pressure to liberalize in order to appeal to younger Evangelicals.

— jeff cimmino, National Review, "For Evangelicals, the Marriage Debate Is Just Beginning," 20 July 2017
Only among Republicans, conservatives, white evangelicals and white men without college degrees did more Americans support the GOP bill than Obamacare.

— philip bump, ajc, "By 2 to 1, Americans prefer Obamacare to Republican replacements," 16 July 2017
Pacifist Quakers, ecstatic Shakers and fiery evangelicals built their own communities in places like Pennsylvania, New York and New England.

— meilan solly, Smithsonian, "Why Religious Freedom and Diversity Flourished in Early America," 15 July 2017
The twist in the legal case comes as a movement to bring Charlie to the U.S. has become an international campaign, bolstered by the involvement of conservative groups from the United States led by Catholics and evangelicals .

— kate samuelson / london, Time, "How U.S. Conservatives Have Changed the Fight for Charlie Gard's Future," 14 July 2017
Not all evangelicals shared in that enthusiasm, however.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "This 'Make America Great Again' song, from evangelicals, is Trump-approved," 12 July 2017
Converts to Orthodoxy come from many backgrounds: former Evangelicals in search of historicity, analytical Christians seeking something more hands-on, weekend churchgoers in search of fuller, more regular engagement.

— jonathan m. pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Conversions gradually transforming Orthodox Christianity," 24 June 2017

First Known Use of evangelical

1532

Other Christian Religious Terms

Pentateuch, blasphemy, curate, doxology, eremite, iconoclasm, liturgy, orison, pneuma, reliquary

EVANGELICAL Defined for English Language Learners

evangelical

adjective

Definition of evangelical for English Language Learners

: of or relating to a Christian sect or group that stresses the authority of the Bible, the importance of believing that Jesus Christ saved you personally from sin or hell, and the preaching of these beliefs to other people
: having or showing very strong and enthusiastic feelings