# protestant

/ˈpɹɑtəstənt/ (US) · /pɹˈɒtɪstənt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. religious member

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

- Many people in Northern Europe are Protestant rather than Catholic.
- The local community is composed of various Protestant denominations, including Lutherans and Methodists, who share a common historical root in the Reformation.

### 2. relating to the church

adjective · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: pertaining to the faith, practice, or church government of Protestant denominations.

- The city is famous for its beautiful Protestant churches.
- The Protestant work ethic is often cited by sociologists as a significant factor in the economic development of certain Western nations.

### 3. one who objects

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- The lone protestant stood outside the hall with a sign against the new law.
- In this legal context, the protestant filed a formal declaration against the seizure of the property, citing procedural errors in the magistrate's ruling.

## Examples

- He is a Protestant and attends the local Methodist church.
- The peace treaty aimed to resolve the long-standing conflicts between Catholic and Protestant groups in the region.
- 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.

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