priest

noun

ˈprēst 

plural priests

: someone who is authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God

specifically : an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyperson ranking below a bishop and above a deacon

Synonyms of priest

• preacher
• cleric
• clergyman
• bishop
• minister
• deacon
• pastor
• reverend
• clerical

Examples of priest in a Sentence

He was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest.

searched for a priest who could perform an exorcism

Recent Examples on the Web

It is celebrated entirely in Latin, with the priest facing the altar and the faithful receiving communion on the tongue while kneeling. —Anna Matranga, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026

Aristotle, the Greek philosopher; and Yamamoto Tsunetomo, a Japanese samurai and Buddhist priest. —Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026

Cather’s protagonist, Father Latour, is a French priest, who is appointed bishop of New Mexico following its 1851 annexation. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026

Panicked, Webster went to see the priest at his Catholic church. —Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English preist, from Old English prēost, ultimately from Late Latin presbyter — more at presbyter

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing priest

• high priest
• priest-ridden
• worker-priest

Rhymes for priest

• beast
• ceased
• creased
• east
• feast
• fleeced
• geest
• greased
• leased
• least
• pieced
• yeast

Kids Definition

priest

noun

ˈprēst 

: a person who has the authority to lead or perform religious ceremonies

Etymology

Old English prēost "priest," derived from Latin presbyter "priest, elder," from Greek presbyteros, comparative form of presbys "old man, elder"