adjective

Pentecostal

pen-tuh-KOS-tuhl

Pentecostal (adjective) means belonging to a branch of Protestant Christianity that emphasises direct personal experience of the Holy Spirit, expressed through gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and faith healing. Example: “She grew up in a Pentecostal church in Texas.”

adjective

Belonging to a branch of Protestant Christianity that emphasises direct personal experience of the Holy Spirit, expressed through gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and faith healing.

"She grew up in a Pentecostal church in Texas."

"Pentecostal worship is typically loud, spontaneous and music-led."

Relating to Pentecost, the Christian feast marking the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles.

"The reading described the Pentecostal flames over the disciples' heads."

noun

A member of a Pentecostal church.

"Pentecostals now make up a large share of Christians worldwide."

How to use Pentecostal

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo do with a lively Christian movement built around the Holy Spirit, healing and speaking in tongues.

When to use it

Capitalised when naming the movement; lower case only when describing the feast in general terms.

Easily confused with

Pentecostal → Protestant → charismatic → evangelical →

Common pairings

Pentecostal church Pentecostal movement Pentecostal preacher Oneness Pentecostal

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She grew up in a _____ church in Texas.

Etymology

From Pentecost, via Latin from Greek pentēkostē (hēmera) 'fiftieth (day)', the festival falling fifty days after Passover or Easter.

Origin: Greek

Rhymes for Pentecostal

postal

See all rhymes for Pentecostal →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Pentecostal and evangelical?

Evangelical is a broad label for Protestants who stress personal conversion, biblical authority and evangelism. Pentecostals are a subset who additionally believe the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues and healing, are active today.

What is the difference between Pentecostal and charismatic?

Pentecostals belong to distinct denominations founded on those beliefs. Charismatics hold similar views about the gifts of the Spirit but remain inside other churches, including Catholic and Anglican ones.

Why is speaking in tongues important to Pentecostals?

Many Pentecostal churches treat it as the outward evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit, a distinct experience following conversion.

What is the meaning of Pentecostal?

"Pentecostal" (adjective) means belonging to a branch of Protestant Christianity that emphasises direct personal experience of the Holy Spirit, expressed through gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and faith healing.