prophetess

Prophetess is a female prophet, or a woman believed to receive and relay messages believed to come from a divine source. The word is formed in English by adding the feminine suffix -ess to prophet, and ultimately derives from the Greek and Latin terms for a messenger or foreteller of divine will.

In Jewish and Christian scriptures, prophetesses appear as figures who deliver revelation or guidance. Notable examples include Miriam, a sister of Moses, recognized as a prophetess; Deborah, a judge and leader described as a prophetess who spoke God's word to Barak; and Huldah, who prophesied during King Josiah's reign.

Within the New Testament, Anna is named a prophetess who awaited redemption in Jerusalem; Luke also notes that Philip's four daughters prophesied. In broader Christian tradition, women sometimes identified as prophetesses in early Christian communities or by later interpreters.

In broader religious and historical contexts, similar roles are found in temple or oracular settings where priestesses or visionary women spoke for deities. In modern usage, 'prophetess' remains common in some denominations and is used to describe women believed to possess prophetic gifts, while other communities prefer gender-neutral language such as 'prophet' or simply 'prophets' to avoid gendered terms and emphasize the function rather than the gender.