# evangelical

/ˌivænˈdʒɛɫɪkəɫ/ (US) · /ˌiːvɐndʒˈɛlɪkəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/evangelical
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. religious movement

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

relating to a branch of Protestant Christianity that emphasizes the authority of the Bible and the importance of personal faith.

For teachers: pertaining to a movement within Protestantism that stresses the necessity of personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, and the spread of the gospel.

- Many evangelical churches in the region organized a joint charity event for the homeless.
- The historian argued that the evangelical movement played a pivotal role in shaping the social and political landscape of nineteenth-century America.

Usage: Often capitalized when referring to specific denominations or formal movements.

### 2. zealously enthusiastic

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

showing great energy and enthusiasm for a particular cause or idea, often trying to persuade others to join you.

For teachers: characterized by a zealous or missionary-like enthusiasm for a secular cause, belief, or activity.

- He has an evangelical zeal for organic gardening and tries to convert all his neighbors.
- The CEO spoke with evangelical fervor about the company's new mission to eliminate plastic waste from the supply chain.

### 3. a believer

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a person who belongs to an evangelical church or holds those religious beliefs.

For teachers: a member or adherent of an evangelical church or movement.

- As an evangelical, she spends much of her weekends volunteering at the local ministry.
- The survey sought to distinguish between the political priorities of evangelicals and those of other religious demographics in the electorate.

## Examples

- He is an evangelical supporter of the new electric car technology.
- The candidate spent the weekend visiting evangelical churches to secure the support of religious voters in the rural districts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.