Word
priestess
Phoneticspriest·ess, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɹistəs/
UK/pɹˈiːstɛs/
Definitions
01religious leader
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion
n. a woman who has the authority to lead religious ceremonies in some religions.
n. a woman who performs religious rites and duties, particularly in non-monotheistic or ancient spiritual traditions.
“The high priestess led the ceremony at the ancient temple during the full moon.”
“Archaeologists discovered a tomb belonging to a high priestess, containing artifacts that suggest she held significant political influence in the city-state.”
Antonyms
02female Christian minister
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Religion Informal
n. a woman who is a priest or minister in some Christian churches.
n. a female priest or minister in certain Christian denominations; occasionally used pejoratively by those who oppose the ordination of women.
“She was the first priestess to be ordained in that small village church.”
“While the denomination officially uses the title 'priest', some traditionalist members occasionally use the term 'priestess' to emphasize their theological objections.”
03to lead a ceremony
C2 · Proficiency Religion Technical
v. to act as a priestess and lead a religious event.
v. to perform the duties of a priestess or to oversee a ritual in that capacity.
“She was asked to priestess the annual festival at the forest shrine.”
“The elder was invited to priestess the solstice rites, drawing on decades of oral tradition to guide the new initiates.”
Real-World Examples
“Patricia Crowther was a follower and "high priestess" of the Wicca pagan religion and co-created the show "A Spell of Witchcraft" on BBC Radio Sheffield in the 1970s.” Etymology
From priest + -ess. Compare Middle English preesteresse (“priestess”). Piecewise doublet of presbyteress.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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