clerical collar

American  

noun

1. a stiff, narrow, bandlike white collar fastened at the back of the neck, worn by certain clerics.

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clerical collar British  

noun

1. Informal name: dog collar.  a stiff white collar with no opening at the front that buttons at the back of the neck; the distinctive mark of the clergy in certain Churches

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Etymology

Origin of clerical collar

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

In his Halloween paso doble showcase, he wore a clerical collar and forewent grease paint or creepy contacts, relying on wide-eyed expressions and a low-slung layer of fake fog to hide his relatively clumsy footwork.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2025

“I was wearing my clerical collar, a big old cross necklace, you know, basically everything that you can to identify yourself as not exactly a rioter.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 11, 2025

He took some flak online for wearing his clerical collar during one episode, something he said he did at the encouragement of the show’s producers and didn’t feel was all that important either way.

From Washington Post • Oct. 7, 2022

When he traveled abroad, he cut a handsome figure in his well-tailored gray suit over a magenta shirt with a white clerical collar.

From New York Times • Dec. 26, 2021

The door opens and a Negro man stands there looking at me, his white clerical collar gleaming.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett