English Reference
noun · adjective

protestant

n. · adj.
US /ˈpɹɑtəstənt/ UK /pɹˈɒtɪstənt/ protes·tant UK spelling protestants

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

    n.a member of a Christian church that is not the Roman Catholic or Orthodox Church.

    n.a member or follower of any of the Western Christian churches that are separate from the Roman Catholic Church and in accordance with the principles of the Reformation.

    Simple

    Many people in Northern Europe are Protestant rather than Catholic.

    In context

    The local community is composed of various Protestant denominations, including Lutherans and Methodists, who share a common historical root in the Reformation.

    non catholic
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Religion

    adj.relating to the parts of the Christian church that are not Catholic or Orthodox.

    adj.pertaining to the faith, practice, or church government of Protestant denominations.

    Simple

    The city is famous for its beautiful Protestant churches.

    In context

    The Protestant work ethic is often cited by sociologists as a significant factor in the economic development of certain Western nations.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal

    n.a person who makes a formal or public complaint against something.

    n.a person who makes a protest or formal objection. Often used in legal or historical contexts regarding a formal declaration of dissent.

    Simple

    The lone protestant stood outside the hall with a sign against the new law.

    In context

    In this legal context, the protestant filed a formal declaration against the seizure of the property, citing procedural errors in the magistrate's ruling.

    protesterdissenterobjector

Reports from the UN indicate that the armed attackers opened fire on residents in the streets and pursued some locals into a nearby Protestant church.

Al Jazeera· 29 Aug 2026

Borrowed from either German Protestant or French protestant, one likely reinforced by the other; equivalent to protest + -ant.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin French protestant
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated