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priest

priest

1.0
A person who leads religious ceremonies and worship in a church or temple
  • noun
  • /priːst/
translation icon : sacerdote
  • "Do not be afraid," the priest who reads him his last rites tells him.
  • parish priest
  • Catholic priest
  • diocesan priest

There would be an altar, a priest and sacrifice and blood.

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Examples

  • After the wedding ceremony, the priest provided blessings for the newlyweds.

  • Don't you want us to get a priest for the last rites?

  • It's never good to see a priest, trust me.

  • At least he said he was a priest.

  • I felt as if my entire life as a priest had been lived in a state of sin.

  • I always feel like the profession of a priest does interest me.

  • I'm about to become a priest.

  • "One of our own, probably our most visible priest, murdered right here in the National Cathedral.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • About a priest who wronged me.

  • We will be greeted at the port by a priest named Morelli.

Synonyms

pastor
vspriest
329 3.0

A religious leader who cares for and leads a Christian church, usually in Protestant churches

is the general authorized religious role not necessarily responsible for a congregation
minister
vspriest
279 2.6

A religious leader who leads worship and helps people

is the broader authorized religious role beyond one denomination
chaplain
vspriest
96 7.2

A religious person who leads services and gives support at schools, hospitals, or in the army

is the general church-based authorized role rather than an institutional attachment
cleric
vspriest
53 6.4

A religious leader who leads services and prayers in a church

is the common general term for authorized religious roles
priestess
vspriest
39 7.2

A woman who leads religious ceremonies

is the non-gendered term for a person with the same authority
Padre
vspriest
26 7.7

A Christian priest who helps soldiers with prayers and advice

is the general authorized religious role not limited to military use
vicar
vspriest
18 5.4

A Christian priest in charge of a local church

is the broader authorized religious role, not tied to representation duties
clergyman
vspriest
15 4.7

A man who leads services and gives spiritual help in a church

is the gender neutral term for the same authorized religious role
curate
vspriest
  • UK
5 8.8

A member of the church who helps a priest with services and care

is the main authorized leader rather than a subordinate assistant
rector
vspriest
5 7.8

A church leader who leads services and cares for a local church

is the general role, which may or may not include parish leadership
canon
vspriest
5 9.0

A priest who is a member of a cathedral's group of church leaders

is the general authorized religious role, not limited to cathedral offices
officiant
vspriest
3 7.9

A person who leads a religious ceremony like a wedding

is the authorized ordained religious figure rather than just a ceremony leader
celebrant
vspriest
1 7.2

A priest or minister who leads a religious service and gives blessings

is used more widely for any authorized religious duties beyond that ceremony
churchman
vspriest
1 6.0

A man who leads or works in a Christian church

is the broader non-gendered term for authorized religious roles
flamen
vspriest
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A priest in ancient Rome who performs rituals for one god

is the general, timeless term used across religious traditions
3.8

A person who leads religious services and performs ceremonies

emphasizes ordination and ritual duties in religious settings
ecclesiastic
vspriest
  • Formal
9.9

A person who works as a priest or minister in the Christian church

is the everyday word used more often by general speakers
sacramentary
vspriest
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who helps with church sacraments such as baptism or communion

is the modern general word used instead of that old term

Idioms

9.9

To call loudly for a priest when you are very afraid or dying

Compounds

15 7.2

A senior religious leader who leads important ceremonies for a religion

3 7.2

A leading person who represents a style or idea

A right that lets a priest or minister keep confessions secret

A person who talks with spirits to heal people or tell the future

How Senior

Pope
  • Formal
239 3.2
archbishop
31 7.2
bishop
210 3.9
ecclesiastic
  • Formal
9.9
priest
1.0
deacon
31 7.4

Surface Forms

priest singular
priests plural

Etymology

Priest comes from the Greek word presbyteros, which means 'elder' and was used for older, respected church leaders. So a priest is someone chosen as an 'elder' or leader to lead religious ceremonies and care for the community.