Mormon
Mormon (noun) means a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose faith centers on the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Example: “His grandparents were Mormons who settled in Utah in the 1850s.”
How to use Mormon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefers to members and teachings of the faith founded by Joseph Smith.
The church itself now prefers "Latter-day Saint" in formal contexts, though "Mormon" remains extremely common in everyday use.
Word forms
Mormons plural, mormons plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His grandparents were _____ who settled in Utah in the 1850s.
Etymology
Named after Mormon, the prophet said to have compiled the Book of Mormon, the scripture published by Joseph Smith in 1830.
Synonyms
View more →Frequently asked questions
What does “Mormon” mean?
The word “Mormon” means a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose faith centers on the Bible and the Book of Mormon. In plain terms, refers to members and teachings of the faith founded by Joseph Smith.
How do you pronounce “Mormon”?
“Mormon” is pronounced MAW-muhn (/ˈmɔɹmən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Mormon” in a sentence?
Here is “Mormon” used in a sentence: “His grandparents were Mormons who settled in Utah in the 1850s.”
What part of speech is “Mormon”?
Depending on how it is used, “Mormon” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Mormon” come from?
The word “Mormon” dates back to around 1830. Named after Mormon, the prophet said to have compiled the Book of Mormon, the scripture published by Joseph Smith in 1830.
Is “Mormon” a common word?
“Mormon” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Mormon” have?
“Mormon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose faith centers on the Bible and the Book of Mormon.
Is Mormon the same as Latter-day Saint?
Mormon is a common informal name for a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose faith centers on the Bible and the Book of Mormon. "Latter-day Saint" is the term the church itself prefers, though "Mormon" remains widely used and understood.
Why is Mormon capitalized?
Mormon is capitalized because it refers to a specific religious group, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and its members and teachings, functioning as a proper noun and proper adjective. Lowercasing it would be a spelling error in standard English usage.
Can Mormon be used as an adjective as well as a noun?
Yes, Mormon works both as a noun for a member of the church and as an adjective describing anything relating to the church or its teachings, such as "Mormon beliefs" or "Mormon history."