# Sumner

/ˈsəmnɝ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

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

## Definition

a person whose job was to call people to appear in a church court. This is an old word for a job that does not exist anymore.

For teachers: an official responsible for summoning individuals to appear before an ecclesiastical court. Historically associated with the medieval church and famously depicted in Middle English literature.

## Examples

- The sumner arrived at the village to deliver the court's message.
- In medieval England, a sumner was often feared because he could force people to answer for their sins in a religious court.
- Chaucer’s depiction of the sumner in The Canterbury Tales presents a corrupt figure who uses his power to extort money from those he is meant to bring to justice.

## Usage notes

- Archaic; primarily encountered in historical contexts or medieval literature.

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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.