pastor

American  

[pas-ter, pah-ster] / ˈpæs tər, ˈpɑ stər /

noun

1. a minister or priest in charge of a church.

2. a person having spiritual care of a number of persons.

3. Ornithology.  any of various starlings, especially Sturnus roseus rosy pastor of Europe and Asia.

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verb (used with object)

1. to serve as the pastor of.

   He pastored the church here for many years.

pastor British  

/ ˈpɑːstə /

noun

1. a clergyman or priest in charge of a congregation

2. a person who exercises spiritual guidance over a number of people

3. an archaic word for shepherd

4. Also called: rosy pastor.  a S Asian starling, Sturnus roseus, having glossy black head and wings and a pale pink body

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pastor Cultural  

1. In some groups of Christians (see also Christian), the clergyman in charge of an individual congregation. The term is used this way in the Lutheran Church and Roman Catholic Church and, to a lesser extent, by Baptists and in the Protestant Episcopal Church.

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Other Word Forms

• pastorless adjective
• pastorlike adjective
• pastorly adjective
• pastorship noun
• subpastor noun

Etymology

Origin of pastor

1325–75; < Latin pāstor shepherd, literally, feeder, equivalent to pās-, base of pāscere to put to pasture, feed + -tor -tor; replacing Middle English pastour < Anglo-French

Example Sentences

Over dinner the Croatian pastor introduced me to two families, newer members of his congregation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Chakwera, a pastor before entering politics, conceded defeat and has kept a low profile since he lost the vote.

From BBC

He could be a pastor if he wanted to.

From Los Angeles Times

A pastor, a Navy veteran, an immigration lawyer and cameraman got out of the Liberty Van — camioneta de la libertad in Spanish — and greeted the day laborers while offering them water and snacks.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Foster, a senior pastor at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham, was appointed in June to oversee the government's response to the Windrush scandal and represent its victims.

From BBC

Related Words

• cleric
• minister
• preacher
• priest
• rector
• vicar