# priestess

/ˈpɹistəs/ (US) · /pɹˈiːstɛs/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. religious leader

noun · CEFR B2

a woman who has the authority to lead religious ceremonies in some religions.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. female Christian minister

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a woman who is a priest or minister in some Christian churches.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: In modern standard English, 'priest' is increasingly used as a gender-neutral term for both men and women in the clergy.

### 3. to lead a ceremony

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to act as a priestess and lead a religious event.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: This verb form is rare and typically restricted to Neopagan or specialized spiritual contexts.

## Examples

- The priestess led the ceremony with great grace.
- In ancient Greece, a priestess would often serve at a temple to a specific god or goddess.
- The role of the priestess in the early church was eventually replaced by the priest, though the title is still used today to describe certain high-ranking female clergy members.

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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.