parson

noun

par·​son ˈpär-sᵊn 

1

: rector

2

: clergyperson

especially : a Protestant pastor

Examples of parson in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This one stars Cox himself as a mysterious and formidable old man in an undertaker’s suit and parson’s hat who wanders into an Arizona border town in 1890 to gather the names of dead Mexican laborers. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

And what does the old man who sleeps by the fire know about the dead parson? — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026

It was said that the room contained a troubled spirit and that the parson was supposed to bless the space. — Meredith Kile, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Among the beetle-collecting country parsons of his day, it was often assumed that the world had been created six thousand years ago and that many geological anomalies could be explained by Noah’s Flood. — Lewis Hyde, Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English persone, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin persona, literally, person, from Latin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for parson

• arson
• larsen

Kids Definition

parson

noun

par·​son ˈpärs-ᵊn 

1

: a minister in charge of a parish

2

: a member of the clergy

especially : a Protestant pastor

Etymology

Middle English persone "parson," from early French persone (same meaning), from Latin persona, literally, "person"; so called because the parson was the legal "person" representing the church