Definition of clergynext
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

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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.
Recent Examples of clergy At the Dadar Athornan Institute, a boarding seminary for Zoroastrian boys, Ramiyar Karanjia gathers with his students to train the faith’s next generation of clergy. Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026 Since the diocese’s founding in 1976, clergy members and archivists have curated unique pieces of Orange County history to preserve its culture and faith. Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 18 June 2026 This past school year at Harvard, I was invited by the late Setti Warren, Director of the Harvard Institute of Politics, and Joe Kennedy III to work with future politicians, activists, doctors, clergy members, executives and entrepreneurs grappling with that reality in real time. Marc Adelman, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026 In the years after the American Revolution, many clergy believed that the harvest field had become barren. Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for clergy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clergy
Noun
  • Currently, the church has a GoFundMe, which has raised around $9,200 so far of its $2 million goal.
    Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • No single official church establishment stretched across the 13 Colonies that would eventually join in the American Revolution.
    Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • The Curia is also seriously underfunded and understaffed for the duties it is supposed to carry out, including the selection, vetting, appointment, and supervision of an episcopate that today consists of more than 5,000 Catholic bishops around the world.
    Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018

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“Clergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clergy. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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