Presbyterian

1 of 2

noun

Pres·​by·​te·​ri·​an ˌprez-bə-ˈtir-ē-ən How to pronounce Presbyterian (audio)
ˌpres-
: a member of a Presbyterian church

Presbyterian

2 of 2

adjective

1
often not capitalized : characterized by a graded system of representative ecclesiastical bodies (such as presbyteries) exercising legislative and judicial powers
2
: of, relating to, or constituting a Protestant Christian church that is presbyterian in government and traditionally Calvinistic in doctrine
Presbyterianism noun

Examples of Presbyterian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Travel Slideshow and Auction, March 23, Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church, 103 Wm. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 10 Mar. 2024 Northwood Presbyterian Church is, in a sense, a kind of home. Danny Nguyen, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Born in 1859 and 1868, respectively, Mildred and Patty were two of six children of the Reverend William Wallace Hill, a Presbyterian minister who edited a religious journal and served as a pastor at Anchorage Presbyterian Church outside of Louisville. Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 Chanell Easton did so in a variety of ways from 2013 to 2018, including by using credit cards linked to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Yuba City, according to court documents. Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 Gabe, a 42-year-old who also declined to give her last name, took her 2-year-old daughter to walk through the streamers and banners set up at Philadelphia Presbyterian Church. Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 5 Mar. 2024 Following her inaugural Seven Waves/Buchla performance in late February at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Ciani will next take the concept to Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church on May 17. Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 3 Mar. 2024 Church holds food drive Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church is sponsoring a drive-thru grocery collection from 9 to 11 a.m. March 2 at 17010 Pomerado Road. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 The new school, the Girls IN STEM Academy, is set to open in fall 2024 in the former Witherspoon Presbyterian Church at 5136 Michigan Road in the Highland-Kessler neighborhood, but first the building must be rezoned from a church to a school. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Born in 1859 and 1868, respectively, Mildred and Patty were two of six children of the Reverend William Wallace Hill, a Presbyterian minister who edited a religious journal and served as a pastor at Anchorage Presbyterian Church outside of Louisville. Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 That connection led Cantus to be invited as musical performers on a tour of Cameroon celebrating the 50th anniversary of Presbyterian churches there. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024 His father, Max Belz, was a grain elevator operator before becoming a Presbyterian pastor. Michael S. Rosenwald, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 My dad was a Presbyterian minister, for 40 years or something like that…. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2024 Diane was a legal secretary and raised her three sons in a strict Presbyterian household, per Esquire. Skyler Trepel, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024 After getting engaged on July 2, 2023, the couple were married on Jan. 6 by Reverend Elizabeth Boone McLean, a Presbyterian pastor, at First Presbyterian Church in Austin. Jenny Block, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2024 Records also indicate that the local art collector and Presbyterian minister, whose longtime wife Josephine Robinson Westervelt passed away in June 2020, was also the mystery buyer who recently paid $7.2 million for Elton John’s condo in Buckhead’s 40-story Park Place high-rise residential tower. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2023 Calvary remains an active Presbyterian church to this day, with worship services every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 21 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Presbyterian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1606, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Presbyterian was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near Presbyterian

Cite this Entry

“Presbyterian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Presbyterian. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Presbyterian

adjective
Pres·​by·​te·​ri·​an
ˌprez-bə-ˈtir-ē-ən,
ˌpres-
1
often not capitalized : having a system of representative governing councils of ministers and elders
2
: of, relating to, or being a Protestant Christian church that is presbyterian in government
Presbyterian noun
Presbyterianism
-ē-ə-ˌniz-əm
noun

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