evangelist

noun evan·ge·list \ i-ˈvan-jə-list \

Definition of evangelist

1 often capitalized :a writer of any of the four Gospels

2 :a person who evangelizes; specifically :a Protestant minister or layman who preaches at special services

3 :an enthusiastic advocate

an evangelist for physical fitness

See evangelist defined for English-language learners

See evangelist defined for kids

Examples of evangelist in a Sentence

an evangelist of space exploration

Recent Examples of evangelist from the Web

But so are the evangelists of small-government conservatism.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Has Converted the GOP Base to His Ideology: Trump First," 22 Aug. 2017
Detroit Free Press A video showing a Christian evangelist preaching to a group of children at a Dearborn park has stirred up controversy and debate on social media forums for Dearborn community members.

— hasan dudar, Detroit Free Press, "Video of Christian preacher in Dearborn park sparks controversy," 11 Aug. 2017
Rodeheaver, who composed popular hymns, normally worked alongside powerhouse evangelist Billy Sunday, who had led a gospel crusade in Baltimore the year before.

— jacques kelly, baltimoresun.com, "A 150-year-old camp-meeting site provides a summertime sanctuary," 14 July 2017
Mayor Richard Kaplan, now an evangelist for using landscaping as a jaywalker-repellant, brought the idea to other Broward cities Thursday at a regional transportation meeting, and will talk to leaders at the Florida League of Cities next.

— brittany wallman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Trees and bushes used to deter jaywalkers in Lauderhill," 13 July 2017
The initiative has the full-throated support of Clarke and of Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan, both of whom were early evangelists for community schools.

— Philly.com, "New community schools coming to West, Northeast Philly," 12 July 2017
Established in 1952, Compassion International started when an American evangelist wanted to save children who were affected by the Korean conflict.

— patti ahern, Daily Southtown, "Session at Beverly church enlists aid for children," 11 July 2017
According to Kirk Franklin, the hip-hop evangelist with ties to Kanye West and Chance the Rapper; and The Reign of Future, a behind-the-scenes look at the rapper's career.

— andy gensler, Billboard, "MTV Restructuring News Department, Shifting to Emphasis on Video (Updated)," 28 June 2017
Yet Howard, one of the company's most devout evangelists, is confident the kinks can be worked out.

— adam mann, Science | AAAS, "Commercial balloons in the stratosphere could monitor hurricanes and scan for solar storms," 22 June 2017

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

First Known Use of evangelist

13th century

Other Christian Religious Terms

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

EVANGELIST Defined for English Language Learners

evangelist

noun

Definition of evangelist for English Language Learners

: a person and especially a preacher who tries to convince people to become Christian
: someone who talks about something with great enthusiasm
: a writer of any of the Gospels in the Bible

EVANGELIST Defined for Kids

evangelist

noun evan·ge·list \ i-ˈvan-jə-ləst \

Definition of evangelist for Students

:a Christian preacher who tries to change or increase religious feelings

Learn More about evangelist

Spanish Central: Translation of evangelist Nglish: Translation of evangelist for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of evangelist for Arabic speakers

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