sermon

noun

ser·​mon ˈsər-mən 

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

sermonic

ˌsər-ˈmä-nik 

adjective

Synonyms

• lesson
• speech
• homily
• lecture

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 on the Web

The church can start today — preach one sermon naming abuse, post hotline resources, and meet privately with survivors to listen and learn. —Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025

Outside, the glasses also accurately recognized and translated a Spanish-language sermon a street preacher was reciting through a speaker system across the street. —PC Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025

Zion Church, with about 5,000 regular worshipers across nearly 50 cities, rapidly added members during the Covid-19 pandemic through Zoom sermons and small in-person gatherings, Long said. —Reuters, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025

Movies about these topics often get stuck in circular arguments and sermons to the choir. —John Wenzel, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sermon

• birman
• burman
• ermine
• firman
• german
• kirman
• spermine
• termen
• termine
• vermin
• determine
• predetermine

Kids Definition

sermon

noun

ser·​mon ˈsər-mən 

1

: a public speech usually by a priest, minister, or rabbi for the purpose of giving religious instruction

2

: a speech on conduct or duty