noun
parishioner
puh-RISH-uh-ner/pəˈrɪʃənər/
A member or regular attendee of a local church congregation.
The parishioner joins fellow congregants in prayer inside the local church.
Etymology
The base already meant a parish member before the person-ending was added. Belonging to the community attached to a local church remains the central idea.
In context
I was talking to a priest at dinner last night who was in some ways complaining about the fact that he has a parishioner even a vestry member who gives almost nothing to the budget
More examples
- Several parishioners volunteer at the church's food pantry.
- She has been a parishioner at this church for years.
- The pastor visits a parishioner who is recovering from surgery.
Forms
parishioner · parishioners
parish noun — A local church community under a pastor.
Similar words
- congregant
- Applies to members of congregations beyond Christian churches as well.
- churchgoer
- Emphasizes church attendance rather than belonging to a particular congregation.