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
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
In August 2023, the nuns rejected the bishop’s authority in a dispute over his investigation into reports their prioress, the Rev. Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, broke her chastity vow with a priest.
—
Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2024
Thomas and three brothers attended Sacred Heart Seminary, a secondary school, though only Thomas continued on to become a priest.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for priest 
Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2024
Thomas and three brothers attended Sacred Heart Seminary, a secondary school, though only Thomas continued on to become a priest.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for priest
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'priest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Priest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priest. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
priest
noun
: 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"
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