What does "evangelical" mean?
A member of an evangelical church.
Evangelical
/iːvænˈd͡ʒɛlɪkəl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of an evangelical church.
- Grammar: evangelical is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: accepted, apocalyptic, apostolic, approved.
- Useful contrasts: antievangelical, nonevangelical, apathetic.
- Usage evidence: Sami was an evangelical missionary who converted to Islam.
How to use "evangelical"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "evangelical" 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 "evangelical" 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 "evangelical" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "evangelical" 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 "evangelical" is acting as adj, noun 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 "accepted" 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 "evangelical", 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 member of an evangelical church.
"Furthermore, what would otherwise be good points about the sort of selective literalism that renders homosexuality an unpardonable sin but shrugs off Sarah Palin’s biblically forbidden pearl earrings are lost in Eichenwald’s assumption that evangelicals make these decisions “with less care than they exercise in selecting side orders for lunch.”"
- 2 An advocate of evangelicalism.
Adjective
- 1 Pertaining to the doctrines or teachings of the Christian gospel or Christianity in general.
- 2 Of, or relating to any of several Christian Churches that believe in the sole authority of the gospels.
- 3 Pertaining to the gospel(s) of the Christian New Testament.
- 4 Of, or relating to Protestant (especially Lutheran) Churches in Germany.
- 5 Protestant; specifically Lutheran and Calvinist churches in continental Europe as well as their offshoots in North America.
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Pertaining to a movement in Protestant Christianity that stresses personal conversion and the authority of the Bible (evangelicalism).
"“They wave their Bibles at passersby, screaming their condemnations,” writes Kurt Eichenwald of evangelical Christians."
- 7 Pertaining to Islamic groups that are dedicated to dawah and preaching the Quran and sunnah.
"When the mosque came under the influence of an evangelical Muslim group (Jamaati Tableegh), the formerly congenial situation changed noticeably."
- 8 Zealously enthusiastic.
Adjective
- 1 marked by ardent or zealous enthusiasm for a cause wordnet
- 2 of or pertaining to or in keeping with the Christian gospel especially as in the first 4 books of the New Testament wordnet
- 3 relating to or being a Christian church believing in personal conversion and the inerrancy of the Bible especially the 4 Gospels wordnet
Example
"Sami was an evangelical missionary who converted to Islam."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "evangelical"?
Common synonyms include: accepted, apocalyptic, apostolic, approved, ardent, authentic.
How do you use "evangelical" in a sentence?
Sami was an evangelical missionary who converted to Islam.
How do you pronounce "evangelical"?
Pronounced /iːvænˈd͡ʒɛlɪkəl/.
Etymology
From evangelic + -al, from Old French evangelique, from Latin evangelium, from Ancient Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion, “good news”).