lectern

noun

lec·​tern ˈlek-tərn 

: a stand used to support a book or script in a convenient position for a standing reader or speaker

especially : one from which scripture lessons are read in a church service

Examples of lectern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The State Department seal is seen on the briefing room lectern ahead of a briefing by State Department spokesperson Ned Price at the State Department in Washington, January 31, 2022. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025

And with his Week 1 visit to the lectern, Verse exuded his unique combination of brash showman and zen worker bee. —Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2025

In that moment at the lectern, the painter generously threw in a couple of portrait canvasses, one of which Halsey pounced on for a robust $586,000. —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

Several dozen people sat at folding tables facing Hageman’s lectern; a woman in the row ahead of me fiddled with military action figures. —Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lettorne, from Anglo-French leitrun, from Medieval Latin lectrinum, from Late Latin lectrum, from Latin legere to read — more at legend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lectern

noun

lec·​tern ˈlek-tərn 

: a desk to read from while standing

especially : one from which scripture lessons are read in a church service