clergy
Americannoun
-
clergies
plural
noun
Grammar
See collective noun.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of clergy
1175–1225; Middle English clerge, clergie < Old French clergé (< Late Latin clericātus office of a priest; cleric, -ate 3 ), clergie, equivalent to clerc cleric + -ie -y 3, with -g- after clergé
Explanation
In the Christian church, the clergy is the entire class of religious officials, from priests to pastors to bishops and beyond. If you have a sense that your life path lies in helping others practice their faith, you should go into the clergy. Clergy comes from the word clerk, which in turn comes from cleric. If the only clerks you think of are those that work in shoe stores, think of it this way: when you join the ministry of a church, the idea is that you serve the church. Clergy is the word for all of the clerics combined, and is paired with the laity, which are all the people in the church who aren't in the clergy.
Vocabulary lists containing clergy
World Religions
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Content Summary 5.1: Causes of the Atlantic Revolutions
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Medieval Europe - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Catholic sisters are playing a key role among clergy and other religious leaders who have been organizing demonstrations and vigils at ICE field offices and processing centers in places like Chicago, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
Normally, when a death occurs inside a cellblock, facility executives dispatch clergy, rehabilitation coordinators, and mental health counselors to conduct psychological welfare checks.
From Slate ● Aug. 11, 2026
Now, in these midterms, no fewer than seven white clergy or ministers-in-training representing the Democratic Party are vying for congressional seats.
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
In addition to the settlement, the archdiocese is required to maintain and publicly disclose a comprehensive, up-to-date list of all accused clergy, including detailed allegations and investigation outcomes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
Many Germans joined with priests, bishops, and other clergy to lobby against the euthanasia action.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
The clergies of Whitehaven, Egremont, Seascale, Gosforth and surrounding areas have met a number of times since the shootings.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2011
Can kings or clergies alter The crackle on one plate?
From Rhymes a la Mode by Andrew Lang
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
