churchman

[church-muhn]

noun

plural

churchmen 

1. an ecclesiastic; clergyman.

2. an adherent or active supporter of a church.

3. British.,  a member of the Established Church.

churchman

/ ˈtʃɜːtʃmən /

noun

1. a clergyman

2. a male practising member of a church

Other Word Forms

• churchmanly adjective
• churchmanship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of churchman¹

1350–1400; Middle English. See church, -man

Example Sentences

The second section is told from the perspective of Jatgeir’s friend, the “churchman” Elias, who has “never had any doubt that ghosts exist.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The place was populated by Marxists and anarchists, “churchmen and agnostics, freethinkers, Darwinists and spiritualists … and dress reform cranks.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Portuguese Cardinal-elect Americo Aguiar, who is in charge of World Youth Day, is another young churchman who also understands his appointment as part of a generational turning point for the Catholic hierarchy.

Read more on Seattle Times

An 1850 issue of The Dublin University Magazine said beaver tail was usually eaten during Lent by the "strict churchmen of Northern Germany," while the Canadian Journal of Industry, Science and Art wrote:

Read more on Salon

I don’t mess with churchmen or my family.

Read more on Washington Post

Related Words

• bishop 
• chaplain 
• cleric 
• evangelist 
• missionary 
• pastor 
• pontiff 
• preacher 
• priest 
• rabbi