clergyman

noun

cler·​gy·​man ˈklər-jē-mən How to pronounce clergyman (audio)
plural clergymen
: a member of the clergy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The belief that ratty footwear repels evil spirits may stem from an English tale, originating around 1300, in which a clergyman named John Schorn trapped the Devil in a boot. Bridget Alex, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2018 The husband of the housekeeper of a Roman Catholic bishop has been arrested in the Southern California clergyman’s shooting death, law-enforcement officials said Monday. Sara Randazzo, WSJ, 20 Feb. 2023 Born in 1818, Emily was the daughter of Irish clergyman Patrick Brontë and his English wife, Maria Branwell. Michelle Mehrtens, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Feb. 2023 While the clergyman and leader of the U.S. civil rights movement Dr. Martin Luther King wore a yellow gold Datejust with champagne dial and fluted bezel, the visionary fine artist, independent filmmaker and author Andy Warhol also wore Rolexes. Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 22 June 2021 The writer, Louis Legrand Noble, was a clergyman, poet and biographer. Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Nov. 2022 Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land, arrived from Jerusalem through a checkpoint in Israel's West Bank barrier. Arkansas Online, 25 Dec. 2022 Hiat heeded that call, forging bonds with followers of other religions in what would be a hallmark of his career as a scholar and clergyman in the decades that followed. Ed Shanahan, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Nov. 2022 Rabbi Hiat heeded that call, forging bonds with followers of other religions in what would be a hallmark of his career as a scholar and clergyman in the decades that followed. Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2022 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clergyman was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near clergyman

Cite this Entry

“Clergyman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clergyman. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

clergyman

noun
cler·​gy·​man ˈklər-ji-mən How to pronounce clergyman (audio)
: a member of the clergy
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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