# clergy

/ˈkɫɝdʒi/ (US) · /klˈɜːdʒi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clergy
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

the group of people who are officially trained and allowed to lead religious services. This includes roles like priests, ministers, or rabbis.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is a clergy." but "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.

## Usage notes

- Usually functions as a collective plural (e.g., 'the clergy are'); when referring to an individual, 'member of the clergy' is the standard phrasing.

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