noun
clergy
KLURD-zhee
noun
1
People who are formally trained and ordained to lead religious services, such as priests, ministers, and rabbis.
"Members of the clergy gathered for the annual conference."
"The clergy led the congregation in prayer."
How to Use Clergy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA collective word for religious officials — priests, ministers, and similar figures — as a group.
Common mistake
"Clergy" refers to the whole group; a single person is a "cleric" or "clergyman/clergywoman," not "a clergy."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
members of the clergy
ordained clergy
Word Forms
clergies plural
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Members of the _____ gathered for the annual conference.
Etymology
From Old French clergie, "learned men," ultimately from Latin clericus, "one ordained for religious service."