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 January, the FBI led an active shooter training with Temple Israel's clergy and staff members, according to a post on X from the bureau's Detroit field office.
—
Christopher Cann, USA Today, 13 Mar. 2026
In a statement to the diocesan community, Bishop Ketlen Solak said the church will investigate the matter and follow the process for handling clergy misconduct.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Although the clergy and the IRGC are commonly understood as separate pillars of the Islamic Republic, Taeb, as both a cleric and an IRGC officer, serves as a bridge between the two power centers.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
In a January letter to the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, the Rabbinical Council of America warned that the use of Jewish symbols by non-Jewish clergy could create confusion in the military chaplaincy system.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clergy
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Christopher Cann, USA Today, 13 Mar. 2026
In a statement to the diocesan community, Bishop Ketlen Solak said the church will investigate the matter and follow the process for handling clergy misconduct.
—Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 10 Mar. 2026
Although the clergy and the IRGC are commonly understood as separate pillars of the Islamic Republic, Taeb, as both a cleric and an IRGC officer, serves as a bridge between the two power centers.
—Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
In a January letter to the Armed Forces Chaplains Board, the Rabbinical Council of America warned that the use of Jewish symbols by non-Jewish clergy could create confusion in the military chaplaincy system.
—Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 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 17 Mar. 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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