priest

noun

ˈprēst 

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

Synonyms of priest

• preacher
• cleric
• clergyman
• bishop
• minister
• deacon
• pastor
• reverend
• clerical

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

Many Catholics will attend a mass where the priests will smudge ashes on their foreheads in the shape of a cross. —Julia Gomez, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026

Superiors in the church hierarchy are accused of ignoring the crimes or, in some cases, protecting priests by moving them to new posts once the scandals were made public. —ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026

Born into a working-class family, Golubski was a heavyset man who had considered becoming a priest before entering the police force. —Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026

On Wednesday morning, those priests were denied entry into the center, despite sending a letter ahead of time notifying the center of their arrival. —Julianna Lozada, Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English preist, from Old English prēost, ultimately from Late Latin presbyter — more at presbyter

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing priest

• high priest
• priest-ridden
• worker-priest

Rhymes for priest

• beast
• ceased
• creased
• east
• feast
• fleeced
• geest
• greased
• leased
• least
• pieced
• yeast

Kids Definition

priest

noun

ˈprēst 

: 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"