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

Billy Idol, chanteuse Sade, metal legends Iron Maiden and Manchester outfits Joy Division and New Order were also honored, along with hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan and velvet-voiced crooner Luther Vandross.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

He has asked her to bring him books by Nelson Mandela, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and José Martí, who fought for Cuba’s independence from Spain.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 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

Soldiers at a memorial service for Martin Luther King Jr. in Da Nang, 1968.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge