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Glite Dictionary
televangelist

televangelist

11 7.0
A preacher who speaks on television to many people
  • noun
  • /ˌtɛlɪˈvænʤəlɪst/
translation icon : televangelista
  • Many people tune in every Sunday to watch their favorite televangelist share messages of hope and faith.
  • a famous televangelist
  • a Christian televangelist
  • televangelist scandals

And she said, well, she said, this is not some televangelist going in and trying to create a atmosphere of emotion and tricking people and thinking of feeling better.

Examples

  • You know, she does book-keeping for a televangelist.

    Out of Sight (1998)

  • The televangelist delivered an inspiring sermon that reached millions through the television screen.

  • I'm thinking of becoming a televangelist.

    The Big Bang (2011)

  • Many years ago, there was a televangelist who railed against adultery.

    Blog text (20)

  • We hear a televangelist's sermon.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Televangelists have routinely inflated the size of their television audiences.

    Academic text (2016)

  • Second Generation activists include televangelist Jerry Falwell, Wall Street Journal editor Robert Bartley, and Heritage Foundation president Ed Feulner.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Televangelist Pat Robertson said Clinton's appeal "bordered on blasphemy" because Clinton supports freedom of choice on abortion.

    Academic text (1992)

  • As a successful televangelist, she uses her platform to spread positivity and encourage charitable giving.

Synonyms

preacher
vstelevangelist
291 3.2

A person who gives sermons in a church

addresses audiences through television broadcasts instead of only church services
evangelist
vstelevangelist
18 6.7

A person who tells people about the Christian faith and asks them to join

uses television broadcasts to present messages and services
preacher man
vstelevangelist
  • Informal
8 6.8

A man who talks about Christian beliefs in church

appears on television to share religious messages to broad viewers
revivalist
vstelevangelist
2 7.7

A preacher who leads large religious meetings to bring people back to faith

uses television to host revival-style services for large audiences
proselytizer
vstelevangelist
  • US
2 8.9

A person who tries to convince others to follow a religion or belief

focuses on persuading via television broadcasts instead of direct personal contact
proclaimer
vstelevangelist
1 5.9

A person who publicly tells others about religious beliefs

communicates beliefs on television to reach viewers rather than only public spaces
evangelizer
vstelevangelist
7.5

A person who tries to persuade others to follow a religion

uses television broadcasts to reach wide audiences with religious content
gospeller
vstelevangelist
9.9

A person who reads and explains the Christian message from the Bible in church

broadcasts those teachings via television to reach viewers
sermonizer
vstelevangelist
7.7

A person who gives religious talks to a group of people

presents sermons through television programs rather than only live settings
conversionist
vstelevangelist
  • Specialized
8.8

A person who tries to make others change their beliefs

promotes conversion through televised messages rather than only personal persuasion

Surface Forms

televangelist singular
televangelists plural

Morphology

televangelist = evangelist (semi-transparent) = tele + evangel + ist

The meaning is readily recoverable as 'TV evangelist', but the tele- element is a clipped form rather than a fully ordinary prefix.

Etymology

The word televangelist joins tele-, seen in television and telephone, meaning 'far', and evangelist meaning 'someone who brings good news about their faith'. So a televangelist is a religious messenger who reaches people 'from far away' by television, which is why it means someone who spreads religious messages through TV.