# preacher

/ˈpɹitʃɝ/ (US) · /pɹˈiːtʃɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. religious speaker

noun · CEFR B2

a person who gives religious speeches, called sermons, to a group of people.

For teachers: a person who delivers sermons or religious discourses, typically a member of the clergy in Protestant denominations.

- The preacher stood at the front of the church and spoke about kindness.
- The traveling preacher moved from town to town, holding large tent revivals that attracted hundreds of local residents every evening.

### 3. biblical book

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

another name for the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible.

For teachers: the English translation of the Hebrew title 'Qoheleth', referring to the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament.

- The lesson today comes from the words of the Preacher in the Old Testament.
- Scholars often debate the identity of the Preacher, the narrator whose philosophical reflections form the core of the book of Ecclesiastes.

## Examples

- The preacher spoke to the crowd about kindness.
- Every Sunday morning, the local preacher delivers a moving sermon that encourages the community to help those in need.
- While some modern speakers focus on self-help, the traditional preacher often draws upon ancient texts to address the ethical dilemmas facing their congregation in a rapidly changing world.

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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.