Word
priesthood
Phoneticspriest·hood, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpɹisthʊd/
UK/pɹˈiːsthʊd/
Definitions
01the office or role
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Religion Formal
n. the position or job of being a priest.
n. the office, status, or tenure of a priest. Often used with the definite article to denote the professional state.
“He decided to enter the priesthood after years of working as a teacher.”
“After a long period of spiritual reflection, he felt a profound calling to the priesthood and began his formal theological training.”
Synonyms
02priests as a group
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Religion Formal
n. all the priests in a particular religion or area considered as one group.
n. the collective body of priests within a specific religious tradition or geographical region.
Español:sacerdocio
“The local priesthood met to discuss how to help the poor in their city.”
“The reform was met with significant resistance from the established priesthood, who feared a loss of traditional influence over the congregation.”
Antonyms
03divine authority
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Formal · Technical
n. the power or right to act in the name of God.
n. the spiritual authority or power believed to be conferred by the divine to perform sacred rites.
Español:sacerdocio
“In their tradition, only those with the priesthood can perform the ceremony.”
“The doctrine emphasizes that the priesthood is not merely a social role but a divine mandate to mediate between the sacred and the profane.”
Real-World Examples
“At a packed Mass in his dusty village of Rincon del Carmen in western Mexico, he was officially brought into the priesthood by the diocese bishop.” Etymology
From Middle English presthed, presthede, presthod, presthode, from Old English prēosthād (“priesthood”), equivalent to priest + -hood. Compare Dutch priesterheid (“priesthood”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
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/priesthood
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0