Definition

A person who is part of a movement that emphasizes personal faith and devotion, often associated with religious reform in Protestant churches during the 17th century in Germany.

Example

The pietist believed in the importance of personal faith over mere ritual.

Conversation

Have you heard about the pietist movement in history?

Yeah, I read a bit about it; they were really focused on personal faith.

Right, it’s interesting how they wanted to revive piety in the church.

Definitely, though some people view them as just being overly religious.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pietist → It is derived from "pietas" (meaning piety or devotion) in Latin, combined with the suffix "-ist" (meaning one who practices or is concerned with). A pietist is someone who is devoted to religious practices and emphasizes personal piety.

Memory Tip

Think of 'piety' as a deep devotion to faith, and remember that a 'pietist' is someone who practices that devotion.

Visually Confused Words