DictionaryAI

priest

PREEST/ˈpɹiːst/

Pluralpriests

Verbpriests, priesting, priested

4 meanings of priest

Practice

  1. 1
    religious leadernouncountable
    A trained religious leader who guides worship and performs ceremonies at a church or temple.

    Like a guide who leads people in prayer and religious ceremonies.

    The priest blessed the couple at their wedding.

    Two priests led the morning service together.

    Similarminister, cleric, clergyman, pastor, vicar

    Note
  2. 2
    appoint (church)verbtransitive
    To make someone a priest in an official church ceremony.

    The bishop will priest her next spring.

    She was priested in the cathedral a year after becoming a deacon.

    UsageSay someone was priested.

    Similarordain

    Oppositedefrock

    Note
  3. 3
    Mormon ranknouncountable
    In the Latter-day Saint church, a rank in the lower priesthood, usually held by young men from about sixteen.

    At sixteen, he became a priest in his church.

    Now that he is a priest in the Mormon church, Josh can help bless the bread.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    fishing toolnouncountable
    A short, heavy tool used to quickly kill a fish after catching it.

    Like a small club made just for fishing.

    He used a priest to kill the trout he had just landed.

    Anglers use a priest to kill a fish quickly.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of priest apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Old English prēost, which came from Latin and originally from a Greek word meaning "elder" or "older person".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts