deacon

noun

dea·​con ˈdē-kən How to pronounce deacon (audio)
plural deacons
: a subordinate officer in a Christian church: such as
a
: a Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox cleric ranking next below a priest
b
: one of the laity elected by a church with congregational polity to serve in worship, in pastoral care, and on administrative committees
c
: a Mormon in the lowest grade of the Aaronic priesthood

Examples of deacon in a Sentence

my cousin was married by his uncle, who is also a deacon in his church
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Married men can be ordained as deacons while women cannot, although historians say women served as deacons in the early Christian church. Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 Leo has said little about other major social and cultural issues that have animated the emergent Catholic right, especially inclusion for LGBTQ+ Catholics and women’s ordination as deacons. Liam Adams, USA Today, 12 May 2025 Soon afterward, the senior cardinal deacon will appear on the balcony over St. Peter's Square, announcing, Habemus Papam! Daniel Burke, NPR, 6 May 2025 Conservatives say that allowing women to be deacons would create a pathway for them eventually to become priests. Motoko Rich, New York Times, 3 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for deacon

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dekene, from Old English dēacon, from Late Latin diaconus, from Greek diakonos, literally, servant, from dia- + -konos (akin to enkonein to be active); perhaps akin to Latin conari to attempt

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deacon was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deacon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deacon. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

deacon

noun
dea·​con ˈdē-kən How to pronounce deacon (audio)
1
: a member of the Christian clergy next below a priest
2
: a church member in various Christian churches who has special duties

More from Merriam-Webster on deacon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!