The clergy are the official leaders of the religious activities of a particular group of believers.
These proposals met opposition from the clergy.
Synonyms: priesthood, ministry, clerics, clergymen or women More Synonyms of clergy
clergy in British English
(ˈklɜːdʒɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-gies
the collective body of men and women ordained as religious ministers, esp of the Christian Church
▶ Related adjectives: clerical, pastoral
Word origin
C13: from Old French clergie, from clerc ecclesiastic, clerk
clergy in American English
(ˈklɜrdʒi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈclergies
persons ordained for religious service; ministers, priests, rabbis, etc., collectively
Word origin
ME clergie, office or dignity of a clergyman < OFr < LL(Ec) clericus: see clerk
Examples of 'clergy' in a sentence
clergy
Too many unhappy clergy have lived by that credo.
Christianity Today (2000)
This came after the houses of bishops and clergy had backed women bishops.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There were also many more clergy in the cities than in the countryside.
Shubert, Adrian A Social History of Modern Spain (1991)
The bishops and the clergy are likely to support change by a wide margin.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Catholic clergy and religious were released.
Paul Preston The Spanish Civil War: Reaction, Revolution and Revenge
Two of the church's senior clergy have resigned over the issue.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
All of which might leave you wondering what effect this has had on the Church and its clergy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It followed that the distinction between clergy and laity could no longer be that the former had "ministries" while the latter did not.
Hebblethwaite, Peter Paul VI - The First Modern Pope (1993)
Many Catholic clergy do great good.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Here, leading women clergy in the Church tell us their stories.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Wednesday Church of England clergy were told that they faced mergers and staff cuts to balance the books.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We wonder how this sits with those senior women clergy from whom the first women bishops will be appointed, to hear their integrity and wisdom so questioned.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
clergy
British English: clergy NOUN
The clergy are the official leaders of the religious activities of a particular group of believers.
These proposals met opposition from the clergy.
American English: clergy
Brazilian Portuguese: clero
Chinese: 教士
European Spanish: clero
French: clergé
German: Klerus
Italian: clero
Japanese: 聖職者
Korean: 성직자들
European Portuguese: clero
Latin American Spanish: clero
Chinese translation of 'clergy'
clergy
(ˈkləːdʒɪ)
n pl
神职(職)人员(員) (shénzhí rényuán)
(noun)
Definition
priests and ministers as a group
The Bolsheviks closed churches and imprisoned the clergy.
Synonyms
priesthood
ministry
So what prompted you to enter the ministry?
clerics
clergymen or women
churchmen or women
the cloth
holy orders
ecclesiastics
first estate
related words
related adjectivesclericalpastoral
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ministry
Definition
the profession or duties of a minister of religion