methodist

methodist — noun

IPA/ˈmeθədɪst/
KK[mˈɛθədəst]IPA/ˈmeθədɪst/
  • methodistsingular
  • methodistsplural

1. a person who belongs to the Christian church started by John Wesley in the 1700s

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who belongs to the Christian church started by John Wesley in the 1700s, a church whose members focus on helping others and living a simple life guided by faith.

Example

Zola became a Methodist after attending several services at the local church.

countable noun: a + Methodist

A group of Methodists raised enough money to build a new school in the village.

plural: Methodists + collective action

Common collocations
  • faithful Methodist
  • devout Methodist
  • practising Methodist
  • fellow Methodists
Synonyms
  • Wesleyan

    more formal and less common in everyday speech; often used in historical or theological writing

Usage Note

In Taiwan, the Methodist Church is commonly referred to as 衛理公會 (Wèilǐ Gōnghuì). Use 'a Methodist' to refer to one member and 'Methodists' for a group.

Common Mistakes

He is a very methodical person who follows a routine.' (when meaning religious affiliation).
He is a Methodist who attends church every Sunday.
'Methodist' with a capital M refers to the Christian denomination, while 'methodical' means organised or systematic.

methodist — adjective

IPA/ˈmeθ.ə.dɪst/
KK[mˈɛθədəst]IPA/ˈmeθ.ə.dɪst/

Word family

  • methodism
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three terms describe Christians who are not part of the Roman Catholic or Orthodox traditions, but they differ in scope. 'Protestant' is the broadest category — it covers many denominations including Lutherans, Baptists, and Anglicans. 'Methodist' refers specifically to a member of the church founded by John Wesley; it is the most natural word in everyday conversation about church membership. 'Wesleyan' is narrower still and has a more formal or academic feel, often appearing in the names of universities or theological writings. In casual speech, saying 'I am a Methodist' is common, while 'I am a Wesleyan' would sound unusual, and 'I am a Protestant' answers a different, broader question about one's religious tradition.

Methodist ↗Wesleyan ↗Protestant ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Methodist church
  • Methodist community

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'Methodist' comes from 'method' plus the suffix '-ist', meaning 'a person who follows a method'. It was first used in the early 1700s as a nickname for a group of Oxford University students — including John Wesley and his brother Charles — who followed a strict, methodical approach to religious study, prayer, and helping the poor. What started as a mocking label became the official name of the Christian denomination they founded.