Luther

American  

[loo-ther, loot-uhr] / ˈlu θər, ˈlʊt ər /

noun

1. Martin 1483–1546, German theologian and author: leader, in Germany, of the Protestant Reformation.

2. a male given name: from Germanic words meaning “famous” and “army.”

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Luther British  

/ ˈluːθə /

noun

1. Martin. 1483–1546, German leader of the Protestant Reformation. As professor of biblical theology at Wittenberg University from 1511, he began preaching the crucial doctrine of justification by faith rather than by works, and in 1517 he nailed 95 theses to the church door at Wittenberg, attacking Tetzel's sale of indulgences. He was excommunicated and outlawed by the Diet of Worms (1521) as a result of his refusal to recant, but he was protected in Wartburg Castle by Frederick III of Saxony (1521–22). He translated the Bible into German (1521–34) and approved Melanchthon's Augsburg Confession (1530), defining the basic tenets of Lutheranism

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Other Word Forms

• Lutherism noun

Example Sentences

"It was because of people like Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King and other leaders that I made a commitment as a child that I wanted to spend my life fighting for justice," she said.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Nor, unfortunately, does it reflect Martin Luther King’s hopeful idea that history’s arc ultimately bends towards justice.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

Pontormo, said to be deeply religious, may be countering Luther, expressing his belief in the Eucharistic mystery by unconventionally adding angels to the scene.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

“That’s the future Martin Luther King Jr. always wanted. That’s the beloved community. That’s the ticket.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026

It became one of the “movement churches” after Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his “Fill Up the Jails” speech there on February 16, 1960.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson