# sexton

/ˈsɛkstən/ (US) · /sˈɛkstən/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

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

## Definition

a person who works for a church and takes care of the building and the land around it. They often look after the graveyard and ring the church bells.

For teachers: an officer of a church responsible for the maintenance of the buildings and the surrounding graveyard. Responsibilities traditionally include bell-ringing and grave-digging.

## Examples

- The sexton rang the bells every Sunday morning.
- After the service, the sexton locked the heavy wooden doors and began tidying the churchyard.
- In many small parishes, the sexton was a well-known figure who held the keys to the local history through his meticulous care of the cemetery records.

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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.