ENGLISH
REFERENCE

protestant

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɹɑtəstənt// UK //pɹˈɒtɪstənt// protes·tant Archaic

n. a member of a part of the Christian church that separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the 16th century. This group includes many different churches like the Baptists, Methodists, and Lutherans.

n. a member or follower of any of the Western Christian churches that are separate from the Roman Catholic Church and follow the principles of the Reformation. Often used to describe a broad range of denominations including Anglican, Presbyterian, and Evangelical traditions.


SIMPLE

He is a Protestant and attends the local Methodist church.

CONTEXTUAL

The peace treaty aimed to resolve the long-standing conflicts between Catholic and Protestant groups in the region.

COMPLEX

The rise of the Protestant work ethic is often cited by sociologists as a significant factor in the rapid economic development of Northern Europe during the post-Reformation era.

Origin

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

Usage

Usually capitalized as it refers to a specific religious identity.

Idioms1 entry

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