Word
sermon
Phoneticsser·mon, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɝmən/
UK/sˈɜːmən/
Definitions
01religious talk
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion
n. a talk given by a priest or religious leader during a church service about a moral or religious subject.
n. a discourse delivered by a member of the clergy during a religious service, typically based on a text from scripture.
“The priest gave a short sermon about the importance of helping your neighbours.”
“The bishop delivered a moving sermon that explored the intersection of ancient scripture and modern social challenges.”
02long lecture
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. a long, serious, and often boring talk where someone tells you what you are doing wrong.
n. a lengthy and tedious speech of reproof or exhortation regarding a person's conduct.
“I asked my dad for some money, but I just got a long sermon about saving.”
“After arriving home two hours past her curfew, she had to endure a stern sermon from her parents regarding responsibility and trust.”
Real-World Examples
“She didn’t join the children’s Sunday school but sat through the sermon for adults, praying and trying to “figure things out”.” “Too often, though, the speech stopped being an argument for more trade with Europe and became a sermon about American power, without ever saying the word America.” Etymology
From Middle English sermoun, from Anglo-Norman sermun and/or Old French sermon, from Latin sermō, sermōnem, from Proto-Indo-European sermō, from ser- (“to bind”) + *-mō.
From Middle English sermonen, from Old French sermoner, from sermon (see above).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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