Jesuit
Jesuit (noun) means a member of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order known for its schools and missionary work. Example: “He was educated by Jesuits and later taught philosophy himself.”
How to use Jesuit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA member of a well-known Catholic religious and teaching order — or, loosely, someone seen as a slippery, hair-splitting arguer.
Capitalize "Jesuit" when referring to the order or its members; the lowercase, insulting sense is rare and dated.
Word forms
Jesuits plural
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He was educated by _____ and later taught philosophy himself.
Etymology
From the Latin name of the religious order, the Society of Jesus, founded in the 16th century by Ignatius of Loyola.
Rhymes for Jesuit
See all rhymes for Jesuit →Frequently asked questions
What does “Jesuit” mean?
The word “Jesuit” means a member of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order known for its schools and missionary work. In plain terms, a member of a well-known Catholic religious and teaching order — or, loosely, someone seen as a slippery, hair-splitting arguer.
How do you pronounce “Jesuit”?
“Jesuit” is pronounced JEH-zoo-iht (/ˈd͡ʒɛzuɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “Jesuit” in a sentence?
Here is “Jesuit” used in a sentence: “He was educated by Jesuits and later taught philosophy himself.”
What part of speech is “Jesuit”?
“Jesuit” is a noun.
Where does the word “Jesuit” come from?
The word “Jesuit” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Latin. From the Latin name of the religious order, the Society of Jesus, founded in the 16th century by Ignatius of Loyola.
Is “Jesuit” a common word?
“Jesuit” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Jesuit” have?
“Jesuit” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic religious order known for its schools and missionary work.
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