Mennonites
|men-no-nites|
🇺🇸
/ˈmɛnəˌnaɪts/
🇬🇧
/ˈmɛnənaɪts/
(Mennonite)
follower of Menno Simons; member of a Christian group
Etymology
'Mennonites' originates from Dutch, specifically the word 'Mennoniet', named after Menno Simons (a 16th-century Anabaptist leader), where the element 'Menno' is the leader's given name.
'Mennonites' changed from the Dutch word 'Mennoniet' and the related German 'Mennonit' and was later adopted into English as 'Mennonite' (plural 'Mennonites').
Initially, the term meant 'followers of Menno Simons'; over time it came to refer more broadly to the religious group and its communities, denominations, and cultural practices.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
members of a Protestant Christian group within the Anabaptist tradition, originating in the 16th century and named after Menno Simons; commonly characterized by adult baptism, pacifism (nonresistance), community-oriented and often simple or plain living.
Many Mennonites live in rural communities and emphasize pacifism and mutual aid.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/15 07:31