latter-day saint
LowFormal, Religious
Definition
Meaning
A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church), also known as a Mormon.
Used more broadly, though less accurately, to refer to any member of the Latter Day Saint movement, which includes denominations that branched from the original church established by Joseph Smith in the 19th century.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is an official self-designation, not an external nickname. It is often capitalised. While 'Mormon' has been widely used historically, the church has officially requested the use of its full name or 'Latter-day Saint' as an adjective in recent years.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in reference to the religious group. The term is slightly more common in American English due to the larger LDS population in the US.
Connotations
Formal, religious, denominational. In the UK, there may be slightly less familiarity with the term compared to the US.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse in both varieties, higher in religious or cultural discussions, particularly in the western US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] a Latter-day Saint[identify as] a Latter-day Saint[describe someone] as a Latter-day SaintVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A modern-day Saint”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in contexts relating to businesses in regions with significant LDS populations (e.g., Utah).
Academic
Used in religious studies, sociology, and history when discussing Mormonism and American religious movements.
Everyday
Used in communities familiar with the religion; otherwise, 'Mormon' may be more commonly heard in casual speech.
Technical
The precise term for a member of the Salt Lake City-based LDS Church, as opposed to members of other 'Latter Day Saint' movements (e.g., Community of Christ).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- They follow Latter-day Saint teachings.
American English
- She comes from a Latter-day Saint family.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He is a Latter-day Saint.
- Many Latter-day Saints serve as missionaries for two years.
- The conference addressed issues relevant to the global Latter-day Saint community.
- Scholars analysed the evolution of Latter-day Saint doctrine in the early 20th century.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Latter-day' means 'modern-day' or 'in these last days,' and 'Saint' means a holy person. Together, they refer to a holy person in the modern era of this religious belief.
Conceptual Metaphor
MODERNITY IS THE LATTER PERIOD (The 'latter days' are the current era before a prophesied end). FAITHFULNESS IS SAINTHOOD (Adherents are metaphorically 'saints' due to their covenant).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation like 'последний день святой' which is nonsensical. It is a fixed term. Use 'мормон' for casual understanding, but 'последодневный святой' is not a recognized equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Writing it as 'Latter Day Saint' without the hyphen (the official style uses the hyphen).
- Using lowercase ('latter-day saint').
- Confusing it with other 'Latter Day Saint' movement churches that are not the mainstream LDS Church.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate and formal term for a member of the Salt Lake City-based Mormon church?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but 'Latter-day Saint' is the preferred formal term according to the church's recent style guide, while 'Mormon' is a widely recognized historical nickname.
No. While Utah has a high concentration, there are millions of Latter-day Saints worldwide, with more members outside the United States than within.
It refers to the religious belief that its followers are living in the 'latter days' (the final period of Earth's history) before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Yes, 'Latter-day Saint' is gender-neutral. A female member is a Latter-day Saint.