Word
clergy
Phoneticscler·gy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɫɝdʒi/
UK/klˈɜːdʒi/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the group of people who are officially trained and allowed to lead religious services. This includes roles like priests, ministers, or rabbis.
n. the body of people ordained for religious service. Usually treated as a collective plural, though it can take a singular verb in some dialects.
Examples
“The local clergy met to discuss the community festival.”
“After the disaster, members of the clergy provided counseling to the families in the village.”
“The relationship between the monarchy and the clergy was often strained, as both institutions vied for supreme authority over the lives of the common people.”
Examples
simple
“The local clergy met to discuss the community festival.”
contextual
“After the disaster, members of the clergy provided counseling to the families in the village.”
complex
“The relationship between the monarchy and the clergy was often strained, as both institutions vied for supreme authority over the lives of the common people.”
Usage
Usually functions as a collective plural (e.g., 'the clergy are'); when referring to an individual, 'member of the clergy' is the standard phrasing.
Pitfall
He is a clergy.
He is a member of the clergy.
Clergy refers to the group as a whole; use 'member of the clergy' or a specific title like 'priest' for an individual.
Real-World Examples
“Buddhist clergy quickly responded—opening schools in Hilo and Kona in 1898 and in Honolulu in 1902, and sparking a showdown between leaders of both religions.” “Last year, the technique helped Wallace uncover what Aguelo Mas describes as Menorca’s “artifact of the decade”: a 13th-century encolpium , or religious reliquary commonly worn by high-ranking clergy.” Etymology
From Middle English clergie (attested in the 13th century), from Old French clergie (“learned men”), from Late Latin clēricātus, from Latin clēricus (“one ordained for religious services”), from Ancient Greek κληρικός (klērikós, “of the clergy”). Equivalent to cleric + -ate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/clergy