adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of priestly
before 1000; Middle English prestli, Old English prēostlic. See priest, -ly
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.
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
The text also sheds light on women's roles in Babylon, including priestly duties that were previously undocumented.
From Science Daily • Nov. 11, 2025
He did not know at the time, he wrote, that “following these procedures was not effective, and that perpetrators were incapable of being treated in such a way that they could safely pursue priestly ministry.”
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2024
In nature, among the priestly and royal, as a symbol of independence, pride and magic, purple is weighty in history and culture.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2023
Instead it was probably created to separate elite from hoi pol- loi, with the goal of emphasizing the priestly rulers' separate, superior, socially critical connection to the divine.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
