clerical collar

noun

: a narrow stiffly upright white collar worn buttoned at the back of the neck by members of the clergy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

As a pair, Tutu and his wife Leah also cut impressively stylish figures, with the former regularly wearing tailoring with a pink shirt and white clerical collar, and the latter favoring the vibrant colors and bold patterns of traditional South African dress. —Liam Hess, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2021

He’s accompanied by another man of the cloth, this gentleman slightly older, a white clerical collar peeking out from his rain jacket. —Gregg Doyel, The Indianapolis Star, 18 July 2022

The white-haired cardinal appeared in court with his walking stick, wearing a clerical collar and a cross around his neck. —Elaine Yu, WSJ, 25 Nov. 2022

The eastern parson spider, named for the way the white patch on its black abdomen resembles a clerical collar. —Adam Roy, Outside Online, 26 Oct. 2022

Bishop Zanchetta, wearing a dark suit, clerical collar and mask, mostly looked down as the verdict was read. —Silvina Frydlewsky And Francis X. Rocca, WSJ, 4 Mar. 2022

Then, just before lunchtime, another worker emerges from a backroom, wearing a black sweater and clerical collar. —Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2021

The chaplain, Lisa Loughlin of Common Cathedral, a 25-year-old outdoor ministry, wears her clerical collar under a North Face fleece and carries a backpack stuffed with sandwiches, socks, winter hats and gloves, and extra face masks. —Jonathan D. Fitzgerald, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Mar. 2021

O’Donnell, who is 74 with hair as white as the clerical collar on his neck, is sitting in his office, flanked by his beloved Native American artwork, talking about his nearly half-century as a Catholic priest in the San Diego diocese. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Dec. 2020

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Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

clerical collar

noun

: a narrow stiffly upright white collar worn by members of the clergy