presbytery

noun pres·by·tery \ ˈprez-bə-ˌter-ē , ˈpres- , -bə-trē \

|Updated on: 9 May 2018

Definition of presbytery

plural presbyteries

1 : the part of a church reserved for the officiating clergy

2 : a ruling body in presbyterian churches consisting of the ministers and representative elders from congregations within a district

3 : the jurisdiction of a presbytery

4 : the house of a Roman Catholic parish priest

See presbytery defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of presbytery from the Web

On the road into the city from Melbourne, the state capital, the red brick Gothic-like presbytery of St. Alipius immediately stands out.

— jacqueline williams, New York Times, "Cardinal George Pell’s Hometown Breaks Its Silence About Grim Past of Sexual Abuse," 29 Apr. 2018
After carefully filling an ancient presbytery near France’s Loire Valley with a personal library of no fewer than 35,000 volumes, he was compelled to pack them all up again in preparation for a move to a New York apartment.

— ernest hilbert, WSJ, "‘Packing My Library,’ ‘The Book: An Homage’ and ‘Unpacking My Library’ Reviews: Putting Your Self on a Shelf," 13 Apr. 2018
The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment.

— jonathan m. pitts, Washington Post, "Churches merge and close in Maryland — 8 Episcopal churches shutter since 2007," 23 Oct. 2017
The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment.

— jonathan m. pitts, Washington Post, "Churches merge and close in Maryland — 8 Episcopal churches shutter since 2007," 23 Oct. 2017
The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment.

— jonathan m. pitts, Washington Post, "Churches merge and close in Maryland — 8 Episcopal churches shutter since 2007," 23 Oct. 2017
The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment.

— jonathan m. pitts, Washington Post, "Churches merge and close in Maryland — 8 Episcopal churches shutter since 2007," 23 Oct. 2017
The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment.

— jonathan m. pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Churches merge, close: 'We no longer live in Christendom. We really have to accept that it's a thing of the past'," 10 Oct. 2017
The local presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA asked its leaders last year to embark on a period of self-assessment.

— jonathan m. pitts, baltimoresun.com, "Churches merge, close: 'We no longer live in Christendom. We really have to accept that it's a thing of the past'," 10 Oct. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of presbytery

Middle English & Late Latin; Middle English presbytory part of church reserved for clergy, from Late Latin presbyterium group of presbyters, part of church reserved for clergy, from Greek presbyterion group of presbyters, from presbyteros elder, priest

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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PRESBYTERY Defined for English Language Learners

presbytery

noun

Definition of presbytery for English Language Learners

: a group of ministers and elders who are the leaders of the Presbyterian churches in a particular area
: the house where a Roman Catholic priest lives