evangelist

noun

evan·​ge·​list i-ˈvan-jə-list 

1

often capitalized : a writer of any of the four Gospels

2

: a person who evangelizes

specifically : a Protestant minister or layman who preaches at special services

3

: an enthusiastic advocate

an evangelist for physical fitness

Examples of evangelist in a Sentence

an evangelist of space exploration

Recent Examples on the Web

At the time, Morris was a traveling evangelist with his wife, Debbie. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2025

Prosecutors allege the offenses began in December 1982 when Morris was a traveling evangelist visiting the accuser's family in Hominy, Okla., and continued for the next four years, per a statement from the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office. —Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025

At the time the abuse allegedly began in December 1982, Morris was a traveling evangelist who visited Clemishire and her family in Hominy, Oklahoma, authorities said in the release. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2025

By 1982, Marty was deemed one of the most influential figures in American religion, alongside evangelists Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell, in a poll published in The Christian Century that surveyed the editors of religious magazines. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

evangelist

noun

evan·​ge·​list i-ˈvan-jə-ləst 

: a Christian preacher who goes about from place to place trying to change or increase people's religious feelings

Etymology

Middle English evangelist "one of the writers of the four Gospels," from early French and Latin evangelista (same meaning), from Greek euangelizein "to preach the gospel," from euangelion "good news, gospel," from eu- "good" and angelos "messenger, angel"