evangelist

noun

evan·​ge·​list i-ˈvan-jə-list 

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

Examples of evangelist in a Sentence

an evangelist of space exploration

Recent Examples on the Web

Playing an obsessive theologian who lures two Mormon evangelists into a trap, Grant wields his rom-com charm for sinister purposes, and his creepy performance gives the religious thriller its edge. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Dec. 2024

In an era of rising inflation and unprecedented monetary stimulus, Bitcoin evangelists see it as a potential hedge against the devaluation of traditional currencies and bet on its recognition as a store of value worldwide. —Steven Dudash, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024

Look at it this way: Woody Guthrie, singer-songwriter, auteur, prickly, difficult man, salt of the earth; Pete Seeger, more of an evangelist operator, expert communicator, who was lifting Woody’s work and all the others. —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 23 Dec. 2024

These young evangelists were looking for people who would listen to them share the Good News of Jesus. —Nick Hall, Fox News, 16 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

evangelist

noun

evan·​ge·​list i-ˈvan-jə-ləst 

: a Christian preacher who goes about from place to place trying to change or increase people's religious feelings

Etymology

Middle English evangelist "one of the writers of the four Gospels," from early French and Latin evangelista (same meaning), from Greek euangelizein "to preach the gospel," from euangelion "good news, gospel," from eu- "good" and angelos "messenger, angel"