priesthood

noun

priest·hood ˈprēst-ˌhu̇d

ˈprē-ˌstu̇d

: the office, dignity, or character of a priest

: the whole body of priests

: elite sense 1

the priesthood of the art world

Example Sentences

an ancient civilization that was ruled by a priesthood What is the influence of the priesthood in today's society?

Recent Examples on the Web The church lifted its ban on Black men holding the priesthood in 1978.

Aaron Falk, The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 Sep. 2022 Race relations is one of the most sensitive issues for a faith that until 1978 banned Black church members serving in the lay priesthood, going on missions or getting married in temples.

CBS News, 9 Sep. 2022 And why did those men and women most recently formed in pre-conciliar seminaries and novitiates lead the flight from the priesthood and consecrated religious life?

George Weigel, WSJ, 30 Sep. 2022 Seven men were also ordained in 2021, 2016 and 2009, the release states, adding the largest recent class was in 2019 when nine men were ordained into the priesthood.

Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 22 May 2022 He was ordained to the priesthood in 1970 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 5 Oct. 2022 The church celebrates the end of the priesthood/temple ban in a joyous and soulful gala.

David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 The LDS Church releases an official essay, tracing the priesthood-temple ban back to Young.

David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 College teams putting up signs of solidarity and demonstrations against BYU and the church’s racist policies regarding Black members with its former priesthood/temple ban in the ‘60s and early ‘70s were much more effective.

Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'priesthood.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.