Evangelical has several distinct meanings:
- In its original sense, it means belonging or related to the Gospel (Greek: euangelion - good news) of the New Testament.
- In the United States, it usually refers to adherents of Evangelicalism.
- In Europe, especially in the German speaking countries, Evangelical (evangelisch) is a general designation for churches adhering to beliefs of the Reformation, e.g. Evangelical Lutheran Church, Evangelical Reformed Church, or Evangelical Methodist Church, in contrast to Catholic or Orthodox churches. In this sense, it comprises everything from a liberal state church to a conservative free church in the Baptist or Pietist tradition.
