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-\

Updated on: 17 May 2018

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

The other four schools audited were San Jose State; Humboldt State; Bakersfield Community College; and Azusa Pacific University, an evangelical Christian school near Los Angeles.

— nanette asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, "State audit finds colleges did not accurately disclose campus-area crimes," 10 May 2018
Davenport serves as the synod’s director of evangelical mission and as an assistant to the bishop.

— kristin e. holmes, Philly.com, "S.E. Pa. Lutheran Synod elects first African American woman as bishop in denomination history," 7 May 2018
Most evangelical leaders reliably support the policies of Israel’s government.

— NBC News, "Holy Land Christians feel abandoned by U.S. evangelicals," 5 May 2018
And Greg’s campaign seems to rest on the hope that the same white evangelical voters who are so fond of his brother will elect him to Congress.

— julie zauzmer, Washington Post, "Mike Pence’s brother is running for Congress. Religious conservatives like Mike, but will they vote for Greg?," 4 May 2018
The cringeworthy juxtaposition of evangelical leaders praying with Trump, as allegations of infidelity and hush money played out on TV, might have sunk a lesser president.

— tina nguyen, The Hive, "“The Stormy News Cycle Cancels Out Russia”: Amid the President’s Legal Chernobyl, MAGA Nation Gives Trump Two Thumbs Up," 4 May 2018
Falwell questioned whether the comparison between the universities was appropriate, telling Religion News Service that his definition refers to evangelical Christian schools.

— rachel leingang, azcentral, "Grand Canyon University may now be the largest Christian university in the United States," 4 May 2018
Equally shameless, and wholly transactional, is the reciprocating evangelical embrace of Trump, despite recent revelations about his personal life and his distinctly unchristian approach toward immigrants and the poor.

— dan rodricks, baltimoresun.com, "Rodricks: Expressing shame in a time of shamelessness," 25 Apr. 2018
But that sense of ambivalence doesn’t seem to have reached rank-and-file white evangelical voters.

— tara isabella burton, Vox, "Poll: white evangelical support for Trump is at an all-time high," 20 Apr. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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

Patterson’s advice to abused women not to divorce has set off a huge public backlash among evangelicals – but not at the conservative Texas seminary where the 75-year-old is president.

— sarah pulliam bailey, Washington Post, "Southern Baptist leader who advised abused women not to divorce doubles down, says he has nothing to apologize for," 4 May 2018
Patterson's advice to abused women not to divorce has set off a huge public backlash among evangelicals - but not at the conservative Texas seminary where the 75-year-old is president.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Southern Baptist leader who advised abused women not to divorce says he has nothing to apologize for," 4 May 2018
Flory of the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture doesn't foresee a major shift among older evangelicals, but added that there may be a sea change among millennials.

— NBC News, "Climate change schism: Evangelical Christians divided on human role in global warming," 22 Apr. 2018
But when the Christian Right emerged at the beginning of the Reagan presidency, Graham cautioned his fellow evangelicals about their newfound alliance with political conservatism.

— daniel k. williams, Newsweek, "Did Billy Graham Bring About the Evangelical Christian Right?," 23 Feb. 2018
Why are white evangelicals accorded so little respect in the public square today?

— nancy d. wadsworth, Vox, "The racial demons that help explain evangelical support for Trump," 30 Apr. 2018
Yet the American church, both Pentecostals and evangelicals, is not reconciled to its most marginalized members.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "A Christian Awakening?," 24 Apr. 2018
At least 70 percent of white evangelicals approve of Mr. Trump's job performance while 26 percent disapprove, according to CBS News polling held March 8-11, 2018.

— peter martinez, CBS News, "Why are evangelicals sticking with Trump despite Stormy Daniels allegations?," 4 Apr. 2018
More than 80% of white evangelicals and 60% of white Catholics voted Trump into office.

— elizabeth dias, Time, "'I Pray for Him Daily.' Why Socially Conservative Women Stand by Trump," 20 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of evangelical

1532

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

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