noun
-
the state, order, or office of a priest
-
priests collectively
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of priesthood
before 900; Middle English presthed ( e ), presthod ( e ), Old English prēosthād. See priest, -hood
Explanation
Priesthood is the position of a religious leader, especially one in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Orthodox church. The word is also used to collectively describe all priests. In some churches, priests are the clergy members who lead worship services and perform religious rituals. The word priesthood is often used to talk about them as a whole: "The Catholic priesthood is reserved for men, while women can serve as nuns." An individual priest might define his own priesthood as focused on serving the poor in his community. Priesthood is from priest and its Greek root meaning "elder," and -hood, "state or condition of being."
Vocabulary lists containing priesthood
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.
Pope Leo XIV heads to South America on Friday for an emotionally charged reunion with the continent that helped shape his priesthood, three weeks after undergoing lung cancer surgery.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
Dillon and his priestly companions are aware of the conflicts within the church and the diminished public respect for the priesthood, yet still they chose a life in service of the Lord.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
Ed has since left the priesthood and married a kind and patient woman named Kathy.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 28, 2026
By Friday, tens of thousands of people of all ages, including several from the priesthood, braved the heat to participate in the occasion.
From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026
The Mayan people were governed by a system in which the priesthood and the nobility shared the power to make and enforce laws that affected all of Mayan society.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
