1. People who whip or beat themselves or others, especially as a form of religious penance or self-mortification.
Usage: plural of flagellator; historical and religious context; often associated with medieval Christian practices
2. Members of a religious sect or movement that practiced flagellation as a spiritual discipline.
Usage: historical; refers to organized groups, particularly in medieval Europe

Examples

• Medieval flagellators believed that physical suffering could atone for sins.
• The flagellators traveled from town to town during the plague, seeking spiritual redemption.
• Historical records describe flagellators as devoted to extreme forms of penance.
• Some flagellators wore chains and whipped themselves in public processions.
• The movement of flagellators gained prominence during times of religious fervor and crisis.