Definition of 'prophet'

Word Frequency

prophet

(prɒfɪt )

Word forms: plural prophets

1. countable noun

A prophet is a person who is believed to be chosen by God to say the things that God wants to tell people.

...the sacred name of the Holy Prophet of Islam.

2. countable noun

A prophet is someone who predicts that something will happen in the future.

[literary]

I promised myself I'd defy all the prophets of doom and battle back to fitness. [+ of]

More Synonyms of prophet

Video: pronunciation of
prophet

prophet in British English

(ˈprɒfɪt )

noun

a person who supposedly speaks by divine inspiration, esp one through whom a divinity expresses his or her will

▶ Related adjective: vatic

a person who predicts the future

a prophet of doom

a spokesman for a movement, doctrine, etc

4. Christian Science

a seer in spiritual matters

the vanishing of material sense to give way to the conscious facts of spiritual truth

Derived forms

prophetess (ˈprophetess)

feminine noun

prophet-like (ˈprophet-ˌlike)

adjective

Word origin

C13: from Old French prophète, from Latin prophēta, from Greek prophētēs one who declares the divine will, from pro-2 + phanai to speak

Word Frequency

Prophet in British English

(ˈprɒfɪt )

noun

the Prophet

the principal designation of Mohammed as the founder of Islam

a name for Joseph Smith as founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ( Mormon Church), or any of his successors as head of the Church

Word Frequency

prophet in American English

(ˈprɑfɪt )

noun

a person who speaks for God or a god, or as though under divine guidance

a religious teacher or leader regarded as, or claiming to be, divinely inspired

a spokesman for some cause, group, movement, etc.

a person who predicts future events in any way

Idioms:

the Prophet

the Prophets

Word origin

ME prophete < OFr < LL propheta, soothsayer, in LL(Ec), prophet < Gr prophētēs, interpreter of a god's will (in LXX, a Hebrew prophet; in N.T., an inspired preacher) < pro-, before + phanai, to speak: see ban1

Word Frequency

prophet in American English

(ˈprɑfɪt)

noun

a person who speaks for God or a deity, or by divine inspiration

2. (in the Old Testament)

a person chosen to speak for God and to guide the people of Israel

Moses was the greatest of Old Testament prophets

b. (often cap)

one of the Major or Minor Prophets

one of a band of ecstatic visionaries claiming divine inspiration and, according to popular belief, possessing magical powers

a person who practices divination

one of a class of persons in the early church, next in order after the apostles, recognized as inspired to utter special revelations and predictions. 1 Cor. 12:28

4. See the Prophet

a person regarded as, or claiming to be, an inspired teacher or leader

a person who foretells or predicts what is to come

a weather prophet

prophets of doom

a spokesperson of some doctrine, cause, or movement

Derived forms

prophethood

noun

prophetless

adjective

prophetlike

adjective

Word origin

[1150–1200; ME prophete ‹ LL prophēta ‹ Gk prophe᷄tēs, equiv. to pro- pro-2 + -phētēs speaker, deriv. of phánai to speak]

Examples of 'prophet' in a sentence
prophet

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`My dear sir, I am not a prophet, nor am I given to inspired guesses.There was pleasure to be taken in playing the prophet of doom, no doubt of that.Verna, Ann wrote, I believe I have discovered where the prophet is hiding.