evangelical

1 of 2

adjective

evan·​gel·​i·​cal ˌē-ˌvan-ˈje-li-kəl How to pronounce evangelical (audio)
ˌe-vən-
variants or less commonly evangelic
1
: of, relating to, or being in agreement with the Christian gospel especially as it is presented in the four Gospels
2
3
: emphasizing salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, and the importance of preaching as contrasted with ritual
4
a
capitalized : of or relating to the Evangelical Church in Germany
b
often capitalized : of, adhering to, or marked by fundamentalism : fundamentalist
c
often capitalized : low church
5
: marked by militant or crusading zeal : evangelistic
the evangelical ardor of the movement's leadersAmos Vogel
Evangelicalism noun
evangelically adverb

evangelical

2 of 2

noun

often capitalized
: one holding evangelical principles or belonging to an evangelical party or church

Examples of evangelical in a Sentence

Adjective She is an evangelical Christian. He spoke about the project with evangelical zeal.
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.
Adjective
Another friend was an evangelical pastor who grew up in the Jim Crow South believing that Black people were subhuman. John Blake, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025 Attendance at some evangelical churches in the Valley has increased, but whether that continues remains to be seen. Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
The young man who opened the door to the Chicago brownstone was the first person to show me that other side of White evangelicals. John Blake, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025 But the Khourys were different, self-consciously inclusive, inviting often inappropriate local guests—gun nuts, fellow pickleballers, smiling evangelicals, conspiracy theorists, and cabinetmakers—to their gatherings, despite the likely awkwardness. Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for evangelical

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1527, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of evangelical was circa 1527

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Cite this Entry

“Evangelical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/evangelical. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

evangelical

adjective
evan·​gel·​i·​cal
ˌē-ˌvan-ˈjel-i-kəl,
ˌev-ən-
1
: of, relating to, or being in agreement with the Christian gospel especially as given in the four Gospels
2
: stressing salvation by faith in Jesus, the authority of the Bible, and the importance of preaching

More from Merriam-Webster on evangelical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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