a discourse for the purpose of religious instruction or exhortation, especially one based on a text of Scripture and delivered by a member of the clergy as part of a religious service.
any serious speech, discourse, or exhortation, especially on a moral issue.
a long, tedious speech.
Origin of sermon
1150–1200; Middle English <Medieval Latin sermōn- (stem of sermō) speech from pulpit, Latin: discourse, equivalent to ser- (base of serere to link up, organize) + -mōn- noun suffix
SYNONYMS FOR sermon
2, 3 lecture.
3 harangue, tirade.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR sermon ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM sermon
ser·mon·less,adjective
Words nearby sermon
serjeant at law, serjeanty, Serkin, Serlio, SERM, sermon, sermonette, sermonic, sermonize, Sermon on the Mount, sero-
He says the couple didn’t appreciate his most recent sermon, which urged Christians to call out and challenge racism anywhere they saw it, including in their own church.
Evangelicals are looking for answers online. They’re finding QAnon instead.|Abby Ohlheiser|August 26, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Every day a new sermon was delivered to me with a bow on it.
When Jesus Freaks Go Bad|Eugene Robinson|August 6, 2020|Ozy
A Gaylard Williams Sunday sermon (which lasted for 45 minutes on average) was something to behold.
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault|M.L. Nestel|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
King says in a sermon a month later at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma, Alabama.
Tavis Smiley Humanely Chronicles MLK’s Sad Last Year|Scott Porch|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I agree with what the sermon was and what it was about,” she said.
Artist Gives Celebs the ‘Natural’ Look|Justin Jones|July 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Your sermon this Sunday morning: Is the power of prayer enough to overcome the German defense?
Argentina Doesn’t Have A Prayer Today. Lucky Them?|Kevin Bleyer|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the 40-minute “sermon,” there is hardly a mention of the Divine.
Even After Hobby Lobby, the Religious Right is Still Terrified|Gene Robinson|July 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
You just run right into your study, Mr. Elliot, and finish your sermon; and there's a pan of hot doughnuts on the kitchen table.
An Alabaster Box|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman and Florence Morse Kingsley
On Friday he betook himself to the church, and read certain passages of his sermon from the pulpit.
The Son of a Servant|August Strindberg
Here it was that Jeanne was to hear the sermon, as so many other unhappy creatures had done before her.
The Life of Joan of Arc, Vol. 1 and 2 (of 2)|Anatole France
They won't like him as a sermon so much as a garbage man but he's a sermon just the same.
Vignettes Of San Francisco|Almira Bailey
She made a cry of surprise and said, "Then you know all about it, and the sermon was meant for me?"
The Christian|Hall Caine
British Dictionary definitions for sermon
sermon
/ (ˈsɜːmən) /
noun
an address of religious instruction or exhortation, often based on a passage from the Bible, esp one delivered during a church service
a written version of such an address
a serious speech, esp one administering reproof
Derived forms of sermon
sermonic (sɜːˈmɒnɪk) orsermonical, adjective
Word Origin for sermon
C12: via Old French from Latin sermō discourse, probably from serere to join together