clerisy

noun

ˈkler-ə-sē How to pronounce clerisy (audio)
Definition of clerisynext
as in intelligentsia
intellectuals considered as a social class a society lacking a well-established clerisy with a strong commitment to democratic ideals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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 clerisy They are ruled by a grizzled and sclerotic clerisy that funnels resources to its private army, the terrorist Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). — Matthew Continetti, National Review, 24 Sep. 2022 All will be forgiven and forgotten by the clerisy of the moment. — Barton Swaim, WSJ, 18 July 2021 Only those the board licenses are admitted to the clerisy uniquely entitled to publicly discuss engineering. — George Will, Twin Cities, 13 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clerisy
  1. intelligentsia
  2. elite
Noun
  • Meanwhile, an exiled intelligentsia numbering in the millions stands ready to return and rebuild their stricken homeland.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Their careers were marked by the jockeying for power and position endemic to the hothouse world of the Parisian intelligentsia, as well as by shifting allegiances and fallings out.
    — Emily Eakin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
Definition of intelligentsia
Noun
  • Aesthetic experiences were here not reserved for museums or the elite, but folded in along with daily drudgeries.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • As the girls ache for a way into the glittering world of the waterfront elite, a secret phone romance with a boy from the local boat club finally makes that dream feel possible.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of elite

Browse Nearby Words

clerihews
clerisy
clerk
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Clerisy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clerisy. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of kith

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All