pastor
8 synonyms for pastor, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A minister or priest who leads a church congregation.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use pastor
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
senior pastor
youth pastor
pastor of a church
Etymology
From Old French pastor, "shepherd," from Latin pastor — the religious sense grew out of the image of a pastor as a shepherd guiding a flock.
Full origin of pastor →Frequently asked questions
What does “pastor” mean?
The word “pastor” means a minister or priest who leads a church congregation. In plain terms, a church leader, especially in Protestant traditions — think shepherd for a congregation of people rather than sheep.
How do you pronounce “pastor”?
“Pastor” is pronounced PAH-stuh (/ˈpæs.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pastor” in a sentence?
Here is “pastor” used in a sentence: “The pastor delivered a moving sermon on forgiveness.”
What part of speech is “pastor”?
Depending on how it is used, “pastor” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “pastor” come from?
The word “pastor” comes from Latin. From Old French pastor, "shepherd," from Latin pastor — the religious sense grew out of the image of a pastor as a shepherd guiding a flock.
Is “pastor” a common word?
“Pastor” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “pastor” have?
“Pastor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a minister or priest who leads a church congregation.
What is the difference between a pastor and a priest?
A pastor is a minister who leads a church congregation, and the title is most common in Protestant churches. A priest is an ordained member of the clergy in traditions such as the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches, where the role centres on administering sacraments. The same person can be both, since some priests serve as pastors of a parish.
What is the difference between a pastor and a reverend?
Pastor names a role — the minister who leads a congregation — while Reverend is an honorific title placed before a member of the clergy's name, as in "the Reverend Jane Smith." A pastor may be addressed as Reverend, but reverend does not itself describe a job.
Can pastor be used as a verb?
Yes. To pastor a church means to lead or minister to its congregation, as in "he has pastored the same congregation for twenty years." The verb is common in church contexts, though the noun remains far more frequent.
What is the difference between a pastor and a minister?
Minister is a broad term for a member of the clergy who conducts religious services, while pastor specifically describes the minister who leads and cares for a particular congregation. In practice, many Protestant churches use the two words interchangeably.
