Synonyms of clergy

clergy

noun

ˈklər-jē 

as in church

the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church

when people find out she's a member of the clergy, they suddenly change their manner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• church
• episcopate
• priesthood
• spirituality
• ministry
• hierarchy
• cloth
• spiritualty
• first estate
• presbytery
• diaconate
• clerkship
• monkhood

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• laity

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of clergy

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

Where are the clergy who once locked arms and marched for progress? — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026

The decision to end TPS will also impact Florida’s Catholic workforce and clergy. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026