sermon

noun ser·mon \ ˈsər-mən \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 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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See sermon defined for kids

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

Before Pence's speech, several Southern Baptists proposed removing it from the meeting's program and replacing it with a time for prayer or sermon.

— daniel burke, CNN, "Pence accused of 'hijacking' evangelical meeting," 13 June 2018
Andre Miller's sermon was in response to last week's outcry over the conduct of several Mesa police officers.

— brieanna j frank, azcentral, "Mesa pastor addresses police brutality during sermon following Mesa police investigations," 10 June 2018
By contrast, Irish clergy have played a generally low-key role, appealing to the faithful to keep the ban through sermons and handouts at Sunday Mass but staying largely out of the public debate.

— paul hannon, WSJ, "Catholic Church Takes a Background Role Ahead of Ireland’s Abortion Vote," 23 May 2018
The Most Reverend Michael Curry's powerful sermon about love and hope at the royal wedding left members of the royal family completely awestruck (see: Zara Phillips' face).

— eileen reslen, Town & Country, "Bishop Michael Curry Reveals His First Thoughts After Giving That Powerful Royal Wedding Sermon," 22 May 2018
Amidst the staid decorum of British royal traditions at the Windor Castle wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Bishop Michael Curry’s rousing sermon on love was a welcome dose of modernity.

— christopher carbone, Fox News, "Royal wedding's Bishop Michael Curry wows at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's ceremony with sermon on love," 20 May 2018
Many viewers noticed their reactions to Reverend Curry's sermon that was different than what is normally seen in the Church of England.

— tamara fuentes, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Royal Family's Reaction to Reverend Michael Curry's Sermon is Everything," 19 May 2018
Instead of a lecture or slide show or sermon, Hale chose to have her audience actively engage in listening.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Building Interfaith Bridges By Listening," 26 Apr. 2018
The website provides access to 117 sermons recorded by Schmidt.

— don behm, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Acting Milwaukee County Sheriff Richard Schmidt to run as Democrat in November election," 24 Apr. 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

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First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year