Swift, Jon ‧ a ‧ than /ˈdʒɒnəθ ə n $ ˈdʒɑː-/ BrE AmE
(1667–1745) an Irish writer who is best known for his book GULLIVER’S TRAVELS but who also wrote many other ↑ satirical stories and clever articles, in which he used humour to criticize institutions such as the universities, the legal profession, and the political parties. He was also a priest in the Church of England, and became Dean (=a high-ranking priest) of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Because of this, he is sometimes called ‘Dean Swift’.