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
Copyright law doesn’t protect general ideas — or incidents, characters and settings considered standard in the treatment of particular topics (think a priest in a movie about possession) — only the particular expression of those ideas.
—
Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
The ‘20s house guests mingle with priests and nuns from the house’s church days and the souls of her mother and father, who each died inside.
—Nicolas Rivero, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
Only priests could enter the caves; everyone else congregated outside.
—Gina Decaprio Vercesi, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025
The film necessarily presents a despairing view of America as its 20th-century glory days recede into the distance, but Schrader isn’t one to shirk away from some form of hope for his isolated priest.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for priest 
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Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Jan. 2025
The ‘20s house guests mingle with priests and nuns from the house’s church days and the souls of her mother and father, who each died inside.
—Nicolas Rivero, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
Only priests could enter the caves; everyone else congregated outside.
—Gina Decaprio Vercesi, Travel + Leisure, 23 Jan. 2025
The film necessarily presents a despairing view of America as its 20th-century glory days recede into the distance, but Schrader isn’t one to shirk away from some form of hope for his isolated priest.
—Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for priest
Dictionary Entries Near priest
Cite this Entry
“Priest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priest. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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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