plural priests
: someone who is authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God
specifically
: an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyperson ranking below a bishop and above a deacon
Examples of priest in a Sentence
He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest.
searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism
Recent Examples on the Web
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Francis rose through the ranks as a Jesuit priest in his home country of Argentina.
—
Susan Miller, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
Following in the footsteps of his older brother Brian, Farrell entered the Legionaries of Christ congregation in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1978 in Rome.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
His behavior during that period, along with that of many other Church leaders, was the subject of much speculation, particularly with regard to the abduction and torture of two priests, Orlando Yorio and Franz Jalics.
—Graciela Mochkofsky, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
First Jesuit pope The Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits, is an order of priests with a long, sometimes controversial history within the Catholic Church.
—Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for priest
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Susan Miller, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
Following in the footsteps of his older brother Brian, Farrell entered the Legionaries of Christ congregation in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1978 in Rome.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
His behavior during that period, along with that of many other Church leaders, was the subject of much speculation, particularly with regard to the abduction and torture of two priests, Orlando Yorio and Franz Jalics.
—Graciela Mochkofsky, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
First Jesuit pope The Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits, is an order of priests with a long, sometimes controversial history within the Catholic Church.
—Christopher Parker, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for priest
Cite this Entry
“Priest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priest. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
priest
noun
: a person who has the authority to lead or perform religious ceremonies
Etymology
Old English prēost "priest," derived from Latin presbyter "priest, elder," from Greek presbyteros, comparative form of presbys "old man, elder"
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