pulpit
gb/pˈʊlpɪt/ us/pˈʊlpɪt/
B2
English
~ 6600
szószék, nyilvános platform, papság, klérus
NOUN
B2
1
szószék
B2
Usage pattern:
stand in the pulpit to [verb]
The priest climbed into the pulpit to begin his sermon.
A pap felment a szószékre, hogy megkezdje a prédikációját.
A large wooden cross hung on the wall behind the pulpit.
A szószék mögötti falon egy nagy fakereszt függött.
From the pulpit, she could see every face in the crowded church.
The old stone pulpit was beautifully carved with flowers and angels.
Learner examples
The pastor stood in the pulpit and spoke to the people.
A lelkész a szószéken állt, és az emberekhez beszélt.
There is a small pulpit at the front of the church.
A templom elején van egy kis szószék.
He walked up the steps to the pulpit.
Everyone was quiet when the minister went to the pulpit.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'pulpit', 'podium', and 'lectern'. A 'pulpit' is usually in a church and is often raised and partly enclosed. A 'podium' is a general raised platform used in many places, such as conference halls. A 'lectern' is a stand that holds notes or a book; it can be on a pulpit or podium.
Meaning
raised speaking platform in church
Collocations
from the pulpit
|mount the pulpit
|stand in the pulpit
|church pulpit
|wooden pulpit
|pulpit steps
Synonyms
lectern (A stand for holding books or notes; used in many settings, not only in churches, and may not be raised as high as a pulpit.)
|
platform (A general word for a raised area to stand on; less specific and less tied to religious use than 'pulpit'.)
Antonyms
pew (Refers to the benches where the congregation sits, contrasting with the raised place where the speaker stands.)
Themes
religion
|buildings
|culture
|communication
Definition
A high stand or small platform in a church where a priest or minister stands to speak to the people.
A raised, often enclosed stand in a church from which a priest or minister delivers a sermon or addresses the congregation.
NOUN
C1
2
szószék
C1
Usage pattern:
use the pulpit to [verb]
As president, she used the office as a pulpit to argue for climate action.
Elnökként a hivatalát nyilvános platformként használta arra, hogy klímavédelmi intézkedések mellett érveljen.
He turned his weekly column into a pulpit for social reform.
Heti rovatát a társadalmi reformok melletti nyilvános fórummá tette.
The documentary gives activists a pulpit to share their stories.
Some critics say he treats the classroom as his personal pulpit.
Learner examples
The mayor used her new job as a pulpit to talk about education.
A polgármester az új tisztségét nyilvános platformként használta arra, hogy az oktatásról beszéljen.
Famous actors sometimes have a big pulpit to speak about causes.
A híres színészeknek néha nagy nyilvános platformjuk van, ahonnan fontos ügyekről beszélhetnek.
He turned his podcast into a pulpit for his ideas.
The TV show became a pulpit for political messages.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning only refers to religious speech. In modern English, 'pulpit' in this sense can describe any powerful public position used to influence people, especially in politics or media.
Meaning
position of moral or public authority
Collocations
political pulpit
|moral pulpit
|use his pulpit
|abuse the pulpit
|powerful pulpit
|public pulpit
Synonyms
platform (Stresses a public position from which views can be shared; less tied to moral authority and religion than 'pulpit'.)
|
soapbox (Informal; suggests strongly expressed personal opinions, often in a lecturing or self-righteous way.)
Antonyms
obscurity (Describes the state of having no public visibility or voice, the opposite of having a public pulpit.)
Themes
politics
|media
|society
|communication
Definition
A powerful public position that lets someone speak to many people and try to change their ideas or actions.
A position of public or moral authority, especially one that allows a person to speak to and influence many people, as if speaking from a church pulpit.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
the pulpit [verb]s
The scandal damaged the public’s trust in the pulpit.
A botrány megrendítette a közvélemény papságba vetett bizalmát.
Voices from the pulpit have grown more critical of government policy.
A papság köréből egyre kritikusabb hangok szólalnak meg a kormány politikájával szemben.
The pulpit has played a major role in social movements throughout history.
Learner examples
In that town, the pulpit has a lot of power.
Abban a városban a papságnak nagy hatalma van.
Many people still listen carefully to the pulpit on moral questions.
Sokan még mindig odafigyelnek a papság szavára erkölcsi kérdésekben.
The pulpit spoke strongly against corruption.
The pulpit and the pew sometimes disagree on changes in the church.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'pulpit' here is always the physical object. In phrases like 'the pulpit and the pew', it stands for the group of clergy, not the wooden structure.
Meaning
the preaching clergy as a group
Collocations
the pulpit and the pew
|from the pulpit
|voice of the pulpit
|the press and the pulpit
Synonyms
clergy (General word for religious officials; not limited to their role as preachers, while 'pulpit' highlights public preaching.)
|
ministry (Emphasizes the religious office and service; slightly broader and more institutional than 'the pulpit'.)
Antonyms
laity (Refers to ordinary members of a religious community who are not clergy, opposite to 'the pulpit' as the preaching clergy.)
Themes
religion
|society
Definition
Priests and ministers as a group, thought of as the people who preach in churches.
The Christian clergy considered collectively, especially as preachers or religious leaders who speak from pulpits.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pulpit
IPA
GB/pˈʊlpɪt/
US/pˈʊlpɪt/
Syllables & stress
pul - pit (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pul)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pulpit
- Plural: pulpits
Word family
Forms
pulpits
noun
Expressions
from the pulpit
1/fɹˈʌm ðə pˈʊlpɪt/
fixed phrase
spoken while preaching in church
Spoken by a priest or minister while standing in the pulpit and talking to people in a church.
Examples
- The bishop condemned the violence from the pulpit.
- He rarely speaks about politics from the pulpit.
- Messages of hope were shared from the pulpit every week.
the pulpit and the pew
1/ðə pˈʊlpɪt ˈænd ðə pjˈu/
idiom
formal
the clergy and the congregation
The religious leaders who preach (the pulpit) and the people who listen in church (the pew) thought of together, often to show a difference between them.
Examples
- On this issue, the pulpit and the pew are clearly divided.
- The reform was welcomed by both the pulpit and the pew.
- Debate continues in the pulpit and the pew over the new guidelines.
bully pulpit
1/bˈʊli pˈʊlpɪt/
idiom
formal
position used to influence others
A powerful job or public position that gives someone a good chance to speak to many people and try to change their opinions.
Examples
- The presidency gives her a bully pulpit to talk about climate change.
- He used his popular TV show as a bully pulpit for social issues.
bully pulpit
2/bˈʊli pˈʊlpɪt/
idiom
powerful position for persuasion
A public job or important position that makes it easy for someone to speak to many people and try to change what they think or do.
Examples
- The presidency is a bully pulpit for drawing attention to national problems.
- She saw the role of mayor as a bully pulpit to push for police reform.
- Social media has become a kind of bully pulpit for many celebrities.