revivalist

noun

re·​viv·​al·​ist ri-ˈvī-və-list How to pronounce revivalist (audio)
-ˈvīv-list
1
: one who conducts religious revivals
specifically : a member of the clergy who travels about to conduct revivals
2
: one who revives or restores something disused
revivalist adjective
revivalistic adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The last were initially known as revivalists of Mod, the youth movement that gave Williamson’s duo half of its name. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2023 The Sardines, an ad hoc band led by music director Kurt Cowling on keyboards and featuring singer Leah Gawel, play music originally performed and mostly composed by '90s lounge revivalists Combustible Edison. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2023 The preacher rose over the decades from tent revivalist to running a worldwide ministry with his namesake from what would be a vast home base in suburban Akron, though in later years he was plagued with scandals and lawsuits about his claimed abilities and business practice. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 10 May 2021 Her daughter, Susan Kikuchi, won renown of her own as a Graham dancer and revivalist. William Mcdonald, New York Times, 29 Dec. 2022 United Methodists are part of a global movement that traces their origins to the 18th-century English revivalist John Wesley, who emphasized personal piety, evangelism, and social service. Peter Smith, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Oct. 2022 It’s John’s inheritance from his recently deceased father, an original mod revivalist who, in his salad days, once led a bikers’ protest against Margaret Thatcher on the streets of Brighton. Guy Lodge, Variety, 17 Nov. 2021 At this point an old-time revivalist movement began to sweep through the land, the kind that arises when a society is forced, like an individual, to face its own deepest conflicts retreats into the mindlessness of unreason. Vivian Gornick, The New York Review of Books, 5 Nov. 2020 The preacher rose over the decades from tent revivalist to running a world-wide ministry with his namesake from what would be a vast home base in suburban Akron. Bill Lubinger, cleveland, 7 May 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'revivalist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of revivalist was in 1820

Dictionary Entries Near revivalist

Cite this Entry

“Revivalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revivalist. Accessed 28 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

revivalist

noun
re·​viv·​al·​ist ri-ˈvīv-(ə-)ləst How to pronounce revivalist (audio)
: one who conducts revivals

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