clergy

noun

cler·​gy ˈklər-jē 

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

Synonyms of clergy

• church
• episcopate

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

The agreement affects around 530 individuals who have filed abuse claims against current or former members of the city's Catholic clergy. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 June 2026

Few commoners could read Latin, which helped the clergy retain a monopoly on biblical interpretation. — Michael Bruening, The Conversation, 30 June 2026

Survivors have fought for a full public account of priests, with San Francisco the only diocese in the state that has not released such a list of clergy abuse offenders. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

The Survivor’s Committee will select a survivor to sit on the Archdiocese Independent Review Board, as past review boards have failed to follow through with an investigation of prior clergy members, Anderson said. — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English clergie, from Anglo-French, from clerc clergyman

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clergy

• benefit of clergy

Kids 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