priestly

adjective

priest·​ly ˈprēst-lē How to pronounce priestly (audio)
Synonyms of priestlynext
1
: of or relating to a priest or the priesthood : sacerdotal
2
: characteristic of or befitting a priest
priestliness noun

Examples of priestly in a Sentence

He is a kind, priestly man. majestically robed in priestly garments
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Sunday, the Jewish priestly blessing at the Western Wall -- normally attended by tens of thousands -- was limited to just 50 people. Arkansas Online, 6 Apr. 2026 On Sunday, the Jewish priestly blessing at the Western Wall — normally attended by tens of thousands — was limited to 50 people. Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026 On Sunday, the Jewish priestly blessing at the Western Wall — normally attended by tens of thousands — was limited to just 50 people. ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026 That religious significance helps explain the presence of so many priestly and temple-related inscriptions among the fragments. Ryan Brennan april 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for priestly

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of priestly was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Priestly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priestly. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

priestly

adjective
priest·​ly ˈprēst-lē How to pronounce priestly (audio)
priestlier; priestliest
1
: of or relating to a priest or the priesthood
2
: characteristic of or suitable for a priest
priestliness noun

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