What does "deacon" mean?
A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
Deacon
/ˈdiːkən/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
- Grammar: deacon is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: aaronic priesthood, acolyte, acolytus, administrative deacon.
- Useful contrasts: adult member, cleric, deaconess.
- Usage evidence: Sami wanted to become a deacon.
How to use "deacon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "deacon" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "deacon" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "deacon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "deacon" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "deacon" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aaronic priesthood" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "deacon", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A designated minister of charity in the early Church (see Acts 6:1-6).
- 2 a cleric ranking just below a priest in Christian churches; one of the Holy Orders wordnet
- 3 A modern-day member of a church who handles secular and/or administrative duties in a priest's stead, the specifics of which depends on denomination. broadly
- 4 a Protestant layman who assists the minister wordnet
- 5 A clergyman ranked directly below a priest, with duties of helping the priests and carrying out parish work.
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 An ordained clergyperson usually serving a year prior to being ordained presbyter, though in some cases they remain a permanent deacon.
- 7 A lay leader of a congregation who assists the pastor.
- 8 A separate office from that of minister, neither leading to the other; instead there is a permanent deaconate.
- 9 A junior lodge officer.
- 10 The lowest office in the Aaronic priesthood, generally held by 12 or 13 year old boys or recent converts. Mormonism
- 11 A male calf of a dairy breed, so called because they are usually deaconed (see below). US
- 12 The chairman of an incorporated company. Scotland
Verb
- 1 For a choir leader to lead a hymn by speaking one or two lines at a time, which are then sung by the choir.
- 2 To kill a calf shortly after birth. US
- 3 To place fresh fruit at the top of a barrel or other container, with spoiled or imperfect fruit hidden beneath. US, slang
"The blanc mange was lumpy, and the strawberries not as ripe as they looked, having been skilfully 'deaconed'."
- 4 To make sly alterations to the boundaries of (land); to adulterate or doctor (an article to be sold), etc. US, slang
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname originating as an occupation.
- 2 A male given name from English. rare
"And like a mirror image in gestures if not in looks, Steward spit fresh Blue Boy while Deek lit a cigar. However disgusted both were, K.D. knew they would not negotiate a solution that would endanger him or the future of Morgan money. His grandfather had named his twins Deacon and Steward for a reason."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Sami wanted to become a deacon."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "deacon"?
Common synonyms include: aaronic priesthood, acolyte, acolytus, administrative deacon, adulterate, almoner.
How do you use "deacon" in a sentence?
Sami wanted to become a deacon.
How do you pronounce "deacon"?
Pronounced /ˈdiːkən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Inherited from Middle English deken, dekne, from Old English diacon, from Ecclesiastical Latin diāconus, from Ancient Greek διᾱ́κονος (diā́konos, “servant, minister”).
Etymology 2
* English occupational surname for someone working in the household of a deacon. * Also as an English surname, variant of Dicken. * As an Irish surname, from Ó Deocáin, "descendant of Deocán."