plural clergies
1
: a group ordained to perform pastoral or sacerdotal functions in a Christian church
Members of the clergy have been invited to participate in an interfaith service.
2
: the official or sacerdotal class of a non-Christian religion
Buddhist clergy
Examples of clergy in a Sentence
Local clergy have been invited to participate in an interfaith service.
a member of the clergy
Recent Examples on the Web
In an enduring alliance between the bazaaris and the Shiite Muslim clergy in Iran, the shopkeepers have played a crucial role as kingmakers across Iran’s history.
—
Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Cameras caught a clergy member sprinkling a little holy water on the Acrisure Stadium turf about two hours before kickoff on Sunday.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
As Pope Francis’s health faltered, the issue figured in the thumbnail biographies of his prospective successors assembled by media outlets from the Times to the traditionalist website CatholicVote, and advocates for survivors of clergy abuse have continued to raise it.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
So far, Rabbinic Fit Check has featured 57 rabbis, clergy members and students from a range of denominations and garnered over 1,300 followers.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clergy
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Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Cameras caught a clergy member sprinkling a little holy water on the Acrisure Stadium turf about two hours before kickoff on Sunday.
—CBS News, 6 Jan. 2026
As Pope Francis’s health faltered, the issue figured in the thumbnail biographies of his prospective successors assembled by media outlets from the Times to the traditionalist website CatholicVote, and advocates for survivors of clergy abuse have continued to raise it.
—Paul Elie, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
So far, Rabbinic Fit Check has featured 57 rabbis, clergy members and students from a range of denominations and garnered over 1,300 followers.
—Grace Gilson, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clergy
Cite this Entry
“Clergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clergy. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clergy
noun
cler·gy
ˈklər-jē 
plural clergies
: the group of religious officials (as priests, ministers, or rabbis) specially prepared and authorized to conduct religious services
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