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clergy

[ klur-jee ]
/ ˈklɜr dʒi /
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noun, plural cler·gies.
the group or body of ordained persons in a religion, as distinguished from the laity.
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Origin of clergy

1175–1225; Middle English clerge,clergie<Old French clergĂ© (<Late Latin clericātus office of a priest; see cleric, -ate3), clergie, equivalent to clerccleric + -ie-y3, with -g- after clergĂ©

grammar notes for clergy

OTHER WORDS FROM clergy

cler·gy·like, adjectivean·ti·cler·gy, adjectivepro·cler·gy, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH clergy

clergy , cleric, imam, minister, pastor, priest, rabbi
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use clergy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for clergy

clergy
/ (ˈklɜːdʒÉȘ) /

noun plural -gies
the collective body of men and women ordained as religious ministers, esp of the Christian ChurchRelated adjectives: clerical, pastoral

Word Origin for clergy

C13: from Old French clergie, from clerc ecclesiastic, clerk
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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