clergy

[ klur-jee ]
/ ˈklɜr dʒi /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR clergy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural cler·gies.

the group or body of ordained persons in a religion, as distinguished from the laity.

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earnest
full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.
a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.
urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.
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Origin of clergy

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

usage note for clergy

See collective noun.

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

Words nearby clergy

cleptobiosis, cleptocracy, cleptomania, clerc, clerestory, clergy, clergyman, clergyperson, clergywoman, cleric, clerical
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to clergy

priesthood, conclave, cardinalate, pastorate, rabbinate, prelacy, canonicate, canonry, deaconry, diaconate

Example sentences from the Web for clergy

British Dictionary definitions for clergy

clergy
/ (ˈklɜːdʒɪ) /

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