catechist

noun

cat·​e·​chist ˈka-tə-kist How to pronounce catechist (audio)
: one that catechizes: such as
a
: a teacher of catechumens
b
: a native in a missionary district who does Christian teaching

Examples of catechist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Philip Siphong Onphitak, the village religious teacher, or catechist, assumed leadership of his flock, keeping up resistance until Dec. 16, when he was murdered in the jungle, reportedly by Boonlue. Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2019 Lacchin was quietly transferred to a nearby mission; his driver and a catechist at Archer’s Post, Benjamin Ekwam, was chosen to marry Sabina. Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2019 Thunder Bar, chief of police at the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota; George Fire Thunder, an English-speaking catechist in the Episcopal Church; and Kicking Bear, a Lakota Sioux who had fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of catechist was circa 1563

Dictionary Entries Near catechist

Cite this Entry

“Catechist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catechist. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

catechist

noun
cat·​e·​chist ˈkat-ə-ˌkist How to pronounce catechist (audio)
-ə-kəst
: a person who catechizes especially on religion

More from Merriam-Webster on catechist

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!