evangelist

American  

[ih-van-juh-list] / ɪˈvæn dʒə lɪst /

noun

1. a Protestant minister or layperson who serves as an itinerant or special preacher, especially a revivalist.

2. a preacher of the gospel.

3. (initial capital letter) any of the writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) of the four Gospels.

4. (in the primitive church) a person who first brought the gospel to a city or region.

5. (initial capital letter) a patriarch.

6. a person marked by evangelical enthusiasm for or support of any cause.

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evangelist ¹ British  

/ ɪˈvændʒɪlɪst /

noun

1. an occasional preacher, sometimes itinerant and often preaching at meetings in the open air

2. a preacher of the Christian gospel

3. any zealous advocate of a cause

4. another word for revivalist

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Evangelist ² British  

/ ɪˈvændʒɪlɪst /

noun

1. any of the writers of the New Testament Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John

2. a senior official or dignitary of the Mormon Church

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Etymology

Origin of evangelist

1125–75; Middle English evangeliste < Latin evangelista < Greek euangelistḗs. See evangel ¹, -ist

Example Sentences

Off-screen, Chapin was an evangelist who shared her faith through public speaking, ministry and outreach, according to her website.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

Notably, it was granted to civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks in 2005 and evangelist Billy Graham in 2018.

From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026

Today, Liu is a stockbroker—and a market evangelist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

It was founded in Ireland by a Scottish evangelist in 1897 and is built around ministers - referred to by the church as workers - spreading New Testament teachings through word-of-mouth.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

Converted sinners flowed down the aisles to shake hands with the evangelist and stayed at his side or were directed to one of the men in line.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Related Words

• missionary
• pastor
• televangelist