presbyterian

[ prez-bi-teer-ee-uhn, pres- ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or based on the principle of ecclesiastical government by presbyters or presbyteries.
2. (initial capital letter) designating or pertaining to various churches having this form of government and professing more or less modified forms of Calvinism.

noun

1. (initial capital letter) a member of a Presbyterian church; a person who supports Presbyterianism.

Presbyterian

¹

/ ˌprɛzbɪˈtɪərɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to any of various Protestant Churches governed by presbyters or lay elders and adhering to various modified forms of Calvinism

noun

1. a member of a Presbyterian Church

presbyterian

²

/ ˌprɛzbɪˈtɪərɪən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or designating Church government by presbyters or lay elders

noun

1. an upholder of this type of Church government

Derived Forms

• ˌPresbyˈterianism, noun
• ˌpresbyˌterianˈistic, adjective
• ˌpresbyˈterianism, noun

Other Words From

• non-Pres·by·teri·an adjective noun
• pro-Pres·by·teri·an adjective noun
• pseudo-Presby·teri·an adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of presbyterian¹

First recorded in 1635–45; presbytery + -an

Example Sentences

Oz, 64, trained as a cardiothoracic surgeon – specialising in operations on the heart and lungs – and worked at New York City’s Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University.

From BBC

In the past Donald Trump had talked about having had a Presbyterian upbringing.

From BBC

"When I heard that this was a Christian organisation - I’m an elder in the Presbyterian Church - I got hold of my pastor and we got hold of the Baptist Church Methodist Church and two other churches in the city and then I was instructed by those churches to investigate the matter," he said.

From BBC

Kathy helps run Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington and one of her jobs is to put up a message with meaning on a sign at the front of the building.

From BBC

Last year Limestone Presbyterian helped to host Christian teenagers from Northern Ireland as part of a cross-community initiative.

From BBC