noun
sermon
SUR-muhn
noun
1
A talk given during a religious service, usually on a moral or spiritual theme.
"The priest's sermon focused on forgiveness."
2
A long, moralising talk that scolds or lectures someone.
"His dad gave him a sermon about responsibility after the car accident."
How to Use Sermon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA religious talk given in a service, or more casually, a long-winded lecture or telling-off.
Common pairings
deliver a sermon
preach a sermon
give someone a sermon
Word Forms
sermoned past tense, sermons plural, sermons singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “sermon”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The priest's _____ focused on forgiveness.
Etymology
From Old French sermon, from Latin sermō, "speech, discourse."