deaconess

[ dee-kuh-nis ]

noun

1. (in certain Protestant churches) a woman belonging to an order or sisterhood dedicated to the care of the sick or poor or who is engaging in other social-service duties, as teaching or missionary work.
2. a woman elected by a church to assist the clergy.

deaconess

/ ˈdiːkənɪs /

noun

1. Christianity (in the early church and in some modern Churches) a female member of the laity with duties similar to those of a deacon

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of deaconess¹

1530–40; earlier deaconisse, part translation, part adoption of Late Latin diāconissa, feminine of diāconus deacon; -ess

Example Sentences

What started under a tent with classes, a Sunday school and free nursing soon became one of Seattle’s first kindergartens, a deaconess named Elizabeth Swift told The Seattle Times.

From Seattle Times

She also was a Sunday school teacher and junior deaconess at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Washington.

From Washington Post

A few weeks ago in Des Moines, members of a Baptist church laid hands on Biden while a deaconess grasped his wrists and prayed that he receive godly wisdom.

From Washington Post

But as a deaconess of the Lutheran Lazarus Order, Sister Brigitte witnessed first-hand the consequences for those who weren’t able to pull it off quite so smoothly.

From Seattle Times

For more than 25 years, she has attended the same church in Dallas, where she serves as a deaconess.

From New York Times