sermon

noun ser·mon \ ˈsər-mən \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Examples: sermon in a Sentence

Definition of sermon

1 : a religious discourse delivered in public usually by a member of the clergy as a part of a worship service

2 : a speech on conduct or duty

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sermonic

play \ˌsər-ˈmä-nik\ adjective

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Examples of sermon in a Sentence

He preached a sermon on the importance of kindness.
Dad gave me a sermon yesterday about doing my homework.

Recent Examples of sermon from the Web

Some holy men took turns giving sermons and offering comfort to relatives of the missing, who sat in plastic chairs in an area cordoned off to the public.

— george styllis, latimes.com, "Water pumps, drills and Buddhist prayers power desperate search for boys trapped in Thailand cave," 1 July 2018
At the memorial for Kennedy, sermons by Catholic Bishop Eugene J. Boyle, Rabbi Saul White and the Rev. Cecil Williams focused on inspiration and the issues that Kennedy held close.

— bill van niekerken, San Francisco Chronicle, "Remembering Robert Kennedy in SF 50 years after his assassination," 5 June 2018
David Jadlocki, a pastor, gave a fire-and-brimstone sermon.

— livia gershon, Longreads, "The Prosperity Plea," 30 May 2018
In one of the whitest spaces in modern England, Bishop Michael Curry gave a rousing sermon that mentioned Dr. Martin Luther King, and spirituals sung by slaves in the American south.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "Thoroughly Modern Meghan," 21 May 2018
Bishop Michael Curry, the head of the Episcopalian Church in America, gave a riveting sermon at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding, one that transfixed both the elite crowd of guests in the church and the broad television audience.

— elizabeth angell, Town & Country, "Who Is Bishop Michael Curry, the Preacher Who Delivered the Sermon at the Royal Wedding?," 19 May 2018
DJ Soto was traveling in an RV across the U.S. and giving live sermons in AltSpace.

— samantha swindler, OregonLive.com, "A virtual reality baptism will strengthen Oregon man's faith," 19 May 2018
In a break with British royal custom -- and in a nod to the bride's homeland -- American bishop Michael Curry, head of the Episcopal Church in the United States, will give the sermon.

— laura smith-spark, CNN, "Royal wedding: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to marry in Windsor," 19 May 2018
A week before the vote, Obando y Bravo, who had recently been replaced as archbishop, gave a sermon widely interpreted as endorsing Ortega's candidacy.

— christopher sherman, Fox News, "In Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega bends to Catholic Church," 17 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of sermon

Middle English, from Anglo-French sermun, from Medieval Latin sermon-, sermo, from Latin, speech, conversation, from serere to link together — more at series

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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