cleric

noun

cler·​ic ˈkler-ik How to pronounce cleric (audio)
ˈkle-rik
: a member of the clergy

Examples of cleric in a Sentence

clerics were sharply divided on the issue of whether the war was morally justified
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.
There are multiple claimants to the Panchen Lama and the Karmapa Lama, the second- and third-highest ranking clerics, respectively, in Tibetan Buddhism. Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 2 July 2025 Revered by his followers as a marja', a leading Shiite Muslim cleric, his role or that of his successor may come to resemble others holding this religious title, such as Iraq's Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who holds no government position yet retains vast influence. Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025 In 2009, his father, a cleric, ran for the Presidency, as did the former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, to defeat the hard-line incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Robin Wright, New Yorker, 23 June 2025 Constitutionally, the Assembly of Experts, a body of 88 clerics, would need to vote to dismiss Khamenei from his position, but organizing such a vote under current circumstances is unlikely. Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for cleric

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin clericus

First Known Use

1621, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cleric was in 1621

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cleric.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleric. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

cleric

noun
cler·​ic ˈkler-ik How to pronounce cleric (audio)
: a member of the clergy

More from Merriam-Webster on cleric

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!