pastor

[ pas-ter, pah-ster ]

noun

1. a minister or priest in charge of a church.
2. a person having spiritual care of a number of persons.
3. Ornithology. any of various starlings, especially Sturnus roseus rosy pastor of Europe and Asia.

verb (used with object)

1. to serve as the pastor of:

   He pastored the church here for many years.

pastor

/ ˈpɑːstə /

noun

1. a clergyman or priest in charge of a congregation
2. a person who exercises spiritual guidance over a number of people
3. an archaic word for shepherd
4. Also calledrosy pastor a S Asian starling, Sturnus roseus, having glossy black head and wings and a pale pink body

pastor

1. In some groups of Christians (see also Christian ), the clergyman in charge of an individual congregation. The term is used this way in the Lutheran Church and Roman Catholic Church and, to a lesser extent, by Baptists and in the Protestant Episcopal Church .

Derived Forms

• ˈpastorˌship, noun

Other Words From

• pastor·less adjective
• pastor·like pastor·ly adjective
• sub·pastor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pastor¹

1325–75; < Latin pāstor shepherd, literally, feeder, equivalent to pās-, base of pāscere to put to pasture, feed + -tor -tor; replacing Middle English pastour < Anglo-French

Word History and Origins

Origin of pastor¹

C14: from Latin: shepherd, from pascere to feed

Example Sentences

Dear Liz: As a recent member of our church board, I just discovered our church hasn’t been paying Social Security or Medicare taxes for our pastor.

From Los Angeles Times

An evangelical pastor who contested the presidency as an independent after breaking away from the main opposition Renamo party, Mondlane rejected the declaration, alleging the poll was rigged.

From BBC

“It’s like a man wants to get married to his fiancée but the tie must be given by the uncle, the suit by his friends, and the ring by the pastor,” he says.

From Science Magazine

He also relayed evidence from a local pastor who prayed with Mr Ogle before the attack after the victim said "they were on their way".

From BBC

“But he also keeps his promises. ... I’m not looking for a pastor in chief. I’m looking for a bodyguard for Western civilization.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cleric
• minister
• preacher
• priest
• rector
• vicar