torchbearer

noun

torch·​bear·​er ˈtȯrch-ˌber-ər How to pronounce torchbearer (audio)
1
: one that carries a torch
2
: someone in the forefront of a campaign, crusade, or movement

Examples of torchbearer in a Sentence

He became the torchbearer for civil rights.
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.
Bennett was a prolific songwriter and torchbearer of a circuit full of roadside dance halls that created a self-sustaining music scene in the Mountain West in the 1970s and 1980s. Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2024 The duo was photographed with Snoop Dogg, the rapper who has been highly visible at the 2024 Games as an Olympic torchbearer and NBC commentator, at the beach volleyball venue near the Eiffel Tower on July 31. Alex Andrejev, The Athletic, 11 Aug. 2024 In his roles as a torchbearer during the opening ceremony and a special NBC Olympics correspondent, the 52-year-old rapper and entrepreneur has been a ubiquitous presence in the City of Lights, mixing it up with big-name athletes and cracking up viewers at home. Daniel Arkin, NBC News, 30 July 2024 Over time, her achievements have become intertwined with her role as a cultural torchbearer who can cross over genres. Sughnen Yongo, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for torchbearer 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of torchbearer was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near torchbearer

Cite this Entry

“Torchbearer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torchbearer. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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