1. a priest or religious leader, especially one who presides over sacred rites or mysteries
Usage: often capitalized when referring to a specific high priest in ancient Greece or Egypt; formal or literary
2. a person who interprets sacred mysteries or esoteric knowledge; an expounder of sacred doctrine
Usage: figurative or literary
3. the fifth card of the Major Arcana in tarot, typically depicting a religious figure
Usage: also called 'The Pope' in some tarot decks

Examples

• The hierophant performed the sacred ceremony at the temple.
• In ancient Greece, the hierophant of Eleusis was one of the most revered religious figures.
• She served as a hierophant of traditional wisdom, teaching younger generations about their heritage.
• The tarot reader drew the hierophant card, suggesting spiritual guidance and tradition.
• He was regarded as a hierophant of classical music, preserving and interpreting the great compositions.