# Methodist

/ˈmɛθədəst/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. a church member

noun · CEFR B2

a person who belongs to the Methodist Church, a branch of Christianity.

For teachers: a member of the Methodist Church, a Protestant denomination that emphasizes social service and personal holiness.

- My grandmother was a lifelong Methodist who volunteered at the church every Sunday.
- As a committed Methodist, he was deeply involved in the local congregation's outreach programmes and community soup kitchen.

Usage: Usually capitalized as it refers to a specific religious group.

### 2. relating to the church

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to the Methodist Church or its beliefs.

For teachers: pertaining to the branch of Protestant Christianity following the teachings and systems of John Wesley.

- We attended a Methodist service while visiting our cousins in the countryside.
- The Methodist tradition has a long history of promoting education and establishing universities across the United States.

Usage: Always capitalized when used as an adjective.

### 3. a follower of a method

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

someone who follows a very strict or specific way of doing things.

For teachers: a person who adheres strictly to a particular method or system of procedure.

- He was a strict methodist in his office work, keeping every file in a perfect system.
- In his scientific inquiries, he proved himself a rigorous methodist, never deviating from the established protocols of the laboratory.

Teaching tip: This non-religious sense is very rare in modern English; almost all speakers will assume you are talking about the religion.

## Examples

- My grandmother is a Methodist and attends church every Sunday.
- The local Methodist church organises a weekly food bank to support families in the neighbourhood.
- The Methodist movement originally emerged as a reform group within the Church of England before eventually establishing itself as a distinct and influential global denomination.

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