intercession

1 of 2

noun (1)

in·​ter·​ces·​sion ˌin-tər-ˈse-shən 

1

: the act of interceding

2

: prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of another

intercessional

ˌin-tər-ˈse-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

intercessor

ˌin-tər-ˈse-sər 

noun

intercessory

ˌin-tər-ˈse-s(ə-)rē 

adjective

intercessor

2 of 2

noun (2)

in·​ter·​ces·​sor

plural -s

1

: one who intercedes : mediator

2

: a bishop who during a vacancy of the see administers the bishopric till a successor is installed

Examples of intercession in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

His effort to offer enrichment and catch-up work during intercessions got off to a slow start but has become a recurring instructional program. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026

Saintly intercession Just on the outskirts of Qom is a village called Jamkaran, home to another important pilgrimage site. — Mary Thurlkill, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026

Some Anglicans, especially in Anglo-Catholic traditions, also ask for the intercession of saints and maintain Marian devotions similar to those in Roman Catholicism. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Mar. 2026

For Flanagan to be beatified, the postulator — the person responsible for advancing the cause — has to find someone who was miraculously healed by praying for Flanagan’s intercession. — ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin intercession-, intercessio, from intercedere

Noun (2)

Middle English intercessour, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French intercesseur, from Latin intercessor, from intercessus (past participle) + -or

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for intercession

• decompression
• dispossession
• indiscretion
• introgression
• nonaggression
• prepossession
• recompression
• repossession
• retrocession
• retrogression
• supersession
• accession

Kids Definition

intercession

noun

in·​ter·​ces·​sion ˌint-ər-ˈsesh-ən 

: the act of interceding

intercessor

-ˈses-ər 

noun