noun
Common
clergy
KLURD-zhee
Clergy (noun) means People who are formally trained and ordained to lead religious services, such as priests, ministers, and rabbis. Example: “Members of the clergy gathered for the annual conference.”
noun
1
People who are formally trained and ordained to lead religious services, such as priests, ministers, and rabbis.
"Today we brought together clergy from the Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, and Reformed traditions for ecumenical dialogue."
"Members of the clergy gathered for the annual conference."
"The clergy led the congregation in prayer."
"After years of debate, hundreds of United Methodists from all over the world gathered in St. Louis last week to settle the denomination’s stance on LGBT clergy and same-sex weddings."
— Dakin Andone, Fractured after vote against LGBT clergy, weddings, United Methodists face possible split (2019)
"Local clergy visited the hospital every week to comfort patients and their families."
How to use clergy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA collective word for religious officials — priests, ministers, and similar figures — as a group.
Common mistake
"Clergy" refers to the whole group; a single person is a "cleric" or "clergyman/clergywoman," not "a clergy."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
members of the clergy
ordained clergy
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Word forms
- Plural
- clergies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Members of the _____ gathered for the annual conference.
Etymology
From Old French clergie, "learned men," ultimately from Latin clericus, "one ordained for religious service."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for clergy
See all rhymes for clergy →Frequently asked questions
What does “clergy” mean?
The word “clergy” means people who are formally trained and ordained to lead religious services, such as priests, ministers, and rabbis. In plain terms, a collective word for religious officials — priests, ministers, and similar figures — as a group.
How do you pronounce “clergy”?
“Clergy” is pronounced KLURD-zhee (/ˈklɝd͡ʒi/ in IPA).
How do you use “clergy” in a sentence?
Here is “clergy” used in a sentence: “Members of the clergy gathered for the annual conference.”
What is the opposite of “clergy”?
The opposite of “clergy” — its antonyms — are laity and nonclergy.
What part of speech is “clergy”?
“Clergy” is a noun.
Where does the word “clergy” come from?
The word “clergy” comes from Latin. From Old French clergie, "learned men," ultimately from Latin clericus, "one ordained for religious service.".
Is “clergy” a common word?
“Clergy” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between clergy and laity?
Clergy refers to people formally trained and ordained to lead religious services, such as priests, ministers, and rabbis, while laity refers to ordinary members of a religious congregation who have not been ordained. The distinction separates religious leadership from the general membership.
Is clergy singular or plural?
Clergy is a collective noun that refers to a group of ordained religious leaders as a whole, and it is generally treated as taking a plural verb, as in 'the clergy are gathering.' A single member of this group is usually called a clergyman, clergywoman, or cleric rather than 'a clergy.'
What is the difference between clergy and a clergyman?
Clergy is the collective term for the entire body of ordained religious leaders, while a clergyman is one individual member of that group. In other words, a clergyman belongs to the clergy.
Do all religions have clergy?
Many organized religions have some form of clergy, meaning formally trained and ordained leaders who conduct services, though the specific titles, training, and roles vary widely between faiths. Some religious traditions have little or no formal clergy structure at all.
