prophet

noun

proph·​et ˈprä-fət 

1

: one who utters divinely inspired revelations: such as

a

often capitalized : the writer of one of the prophetic books of the Bible

b

capitalized : one regarded by a group of followers as the final authoritative revealer of God's will

Muhammad, the Prophet of Allah

2

: one gifted with more than ordinary spiritual and moral insight

especially : an inspired poet

3

: one who foretells future events : predictor

4

: an effective or leading spokesman for a cause, doctrine, or group

5

Christian Science

a

: a spiritual seer

b

: disappearance of material sense before the conscious facts of spiritual Truth

prophethood

ˈprä-fət-ˌhu̇d 

noun

Synonyms

• diviner
• forecaster

Examples of prophet in a Sentence

the words of the prophet

an economist who is regarded by many as a reliable prophet of future developments in the global economy

Recent Examples on the Web

For all her outward support, his wife has clearly begun to have her doubts about her beloved prophet. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2025

How to tell a true from a false prophet, the real Christ, returned in glory, from a dime-store messiah with a huckster’s charm? —Michael Robbins, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025

The main point of contention seemed to be identifying Timothy Leary as a poet (seven minutes) or a prophet (half an hour). —Dennis McNally, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025

As a Pentecostal movement, the denomination teaches that God speaks through modern spiritual leaders to call out hypocrisy and injustice, much like the prophets of the Old Testament. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English prophete, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin prophēta "spokesman or interpreter of a god" (Late Latin also prophētēs "revealer of God's will, foreteller of future events"), borrowed from Greek prophḗtēs "one who interprets the will of a god to humans, interpreter," (Septuagint) "revealer of God's will," (New Testament) "inspired preacher and teacher, foreteller of future events," from pro- pro- entry 1 + phē-, stem of phēmí, phánai "to speak, say" + -tēs, agent suffix — more at ban entry 1

Note: A few attestations in late Old English, apparently declined as a weak noun, are directly from Latin.

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing prophet

• prophet of doom

Rhymes for prophet

• profit
• soffit
• nonprofit

Kids Definition

prophet

noun

proph·​et ˈpräf-ət 

1

: one who declares publicly a message that one believes has come from God or a god

2

: one who foretells future events