What does covenanter mean?
A covenanter is a person who signs or adheres to a covenant, but in practice the term refers above all to the Scottish Presbyterians of the 17th century who bound themselves by the National Covenant of 1638 and the Solemn League and Covenant of 1643. These Covenants pledged defense of Presbyterian church government against attempts by the Stuart kings to impose bishops and forms of worship on Scotland. Many Covenanters endured fines, imprisonment, execution, or exile — particularly during the repressive period known as the Killing Time in the 1680s — and they remain powerful symbols of religious conscience and resistance in Scottish history. In a broader, less common sense, a covenanter is simply anyone who enters into a covenant or formal agreement. The word therefore carries strong historical and religious connotations, evoking steadfastness, sacrifice, and defiance of authority.
nounA person who signs or adheres to a covenant, especially historically one of the Scottish Presbyterians who subscribed to the National Covenant of 1638 or the Solemn League and Covenant of 1643 in defense of Presbyterian church government.
- A signer or supporter of the Scottish National Covenant (1638) or Solemn League and Covenant (1643), especially one who resisted episcopal rule and was persecuted for it in the 'Killing Time' of the 1680s.
- More generally, any person who enters into or is bound by a covenant.
"The covenanters swore to defend Presbyterian worship against interference by the crown."
"The old gravestone marked the resting place of a Covenanter shot down in the fields during the persecutions of the 1680s."
"Under the terms of the agreement, each covenanter pledged a fixed annual payment."
Standard plural; commonly capitalized as 'Covenanters' when referring collectively to the Scottish movement.
"Thousands of Covenanters gathered at Greyfriars Kirk to sign the National Covenant."
Scottish Covenanters were so committed to their cause that thousands were executed or exiled — some were even transported as slaves to the American colonies for refusing to renounce their covenant.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of covenanter
Covenanter derives from 'covenant', which entered English from Old French 'covenant' (agreement), ultimately from Latin 'convenire', meaning 'to come together or agree'. The agent noun was formed with the '-er' suffix, denoting a person who performs the action. It rose to prominence in the mid-17th century when Scottish Presbyterians adopted the name to describe subscribers to their national covenants. Related words from the same Latin root include 'convene' and 'convention'.
How covenanter is actually used
The historical sense dominates: 'Covenanter' (often capitalized) almost always refers to the Scottish Presbyterians of the 17th century and carries connotations of religious conviction, resistance to royal authority, and martyrdom. The generic sense — a party to any covenant — is rarer and typically appears in legal or formal contexts.
Easily confused with covenanter
A conventicler attended illegal religious meetings (conventicles), whereas a covenanter specifically signed or upheld one of the Scottish national covenants.