# priest

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɹiːst/ · frequency rank #4,109

## Definitions
1. A religious clergyman (clergywoman, clergyperson) who is trained to perform services or sacrifices at a church or temple.
2. A blunt tool, used for quickly stunning and killing fish.
3. The highest office in the Aaronic priesthood.

## Etymology
From Middle English prest, preest, from Old English prēost (“priest”), from Late Latin presbyter, from Ancient Greek πρεσβύτερος (presbúteros), from πρέσβυς (présbus, “elder, older”). Reinforced in Middle English by Old French prestre, also from Latin presbyter. Doublet of presbyter and prester.

## Easily confused with
- **print** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-print)
- **prism** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-prism)
- **Prius** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-prius)
- **prizes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-prizes)
- **purest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-purest)
- **primes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-primes)
- **Proust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-proust)
- **purist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-purist)
- **protest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-protest)
- **priests** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-priests)
- **priestly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/priest-vs-priestly)
- **pest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pest-vs-priest)
- **pres** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pres-vs-priest)
- **pies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pies-vs-priest)
- **piet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/piet-vs-priest)
- **press** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/press-vs-priest)
- **plies** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plies-vs-priest)
- **prices** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prices-vs-priest)
- **preset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/preset-vs-priest)
- **presto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/presto-vs-priest)

## Common misspellings (9)
`pirest`, `ppriest`, `preist`, `priesst`, `priestt`, `priets`, `priset`, `prriest`, `rpiest`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/priest