parson

[ pahr-suhn ]

noun

1. a member of the clergy, especially a Protestant minister; pastor; rector.
2. the holder or incumbent of a parochial benefice, especially an Anglican.

parson

/ ˈpɑːsən; pɑːˈsɒnɪk /

noun

1. a parish priest in the Church of England, formerly applied only to those who held ecclesiastical benefices
2. any clergyman
3. a nonconformist minister

Derived Forms

• parsonic, adjective

Other Words From

• par·son·ic [pahr-, son, -ik], par·soni·cal adjective
• par·soni·cal·ly adverb
• parson·ish parson·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parson¹

1200–50; Middle English persone < Medieval Latin persōna parish priest, Latin: personage. See person

Word History and Origins

Origin of parson¹

C13: from Medieval Latin persōna parish priest, representative of the parish, from Latin: personage; see person

Example Sentences

Her work as a parson’s wife opposite Maurice Evans in a well-received 1950 Broadway revival of George Bernard Shaw’s “The Devil’s Disciple” landed her on the cover of Life magazine — a major publicity coup.

From Washington Post

He spoke with the easy grace of a country parson, but no fire and brimstone emanated from his pulpit as he calmly but bracingly recounted what he said was his mother’s family history.

From New York Times

A quiet wedding we had: he and I, the parson and clerk, were alone present.

From Literature

I looked at his back, prim as a parson’s, tried to imagine the two of them together.

From Literature

A career in science had usurped his plan to work as a country parson who dabbled in natural history.

From New York Times