Definitions for clergy
ˈklɜr dʒicler·gy

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. clergynoun

   in Christianity, clergymen collectively (as distinguished from the laity)

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 2 votes

1. clergynoun

   Body of persons, such as ministers, priests and rabbis, who are trained and ordained for religious service.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. CLERGYnoun

   The body of men set apart by due ordination for the service of God.

   Etymology: clergè, Fr. clerus, Lat. ϰληϱὸς Greek.

   We hold that God’s clergy are a state which hath been, and will be as long as there is a church upon earth, necessary, by the plain word of God himself; a state whereunto the rest of God’s people must be subject, as touching things that appertain to their soul’s health. Richard Hooker, b. iii.

   The convocation give a greater sum,
   Than ever, at one time, the clergy yet
   Did to his predecessors part withal. William Shakespeare, Henry V.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Clergy

   Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the terms used for individual clergy are clergyman, clergywoman, clergyperson, churchman, and cleric, while clerk in holy orders has a long history but is rarely used.In Christianity, the specific names and roles of the clergy vary by denomination and there is a wide range of formal and informal clergy positions, including deacons, elders, priests, bishops, preachers, pastors, presbyters, ministers, and the pope. In Islam, a religious leader is often known formally or informally as an imam, caliph, qadi, sheikh, mufti, mullah, muezzin, or ayatollah. In the Jewish tradition, a religious leader is often a rabbi (teacher) or hazzan (cantor).

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. clergy

   Clergy refers to individuals who are appointed or ordained for religious duties, often in positions of service, leadership, and administration in their religious community. This often includes roles like priests, pastors, ministers, bishops, rabbis, imams or other religious leaders. Clergy typically perform spiritual practices, rituals, and provide counsel or guidance in accordance with the beliefs and doctrines of their faith.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Clergynoun

   the body of men set apart, by due ordination, to the service of God, in the Christian church, in distinction from the laity; in England, usually restricted to the ministers of the Established Church

2. Clergynoun

   learning; also, a learned profession

3. Clergynoun

   the privilege or benefit of clergy

4. Etymology: [OE. clergie, clergi, clerge, OF. clergie, F. clergie (fr. clerc clerc, fr. L. clericus priest) confused with OF. clergi, F. clerg, fr. LL. clericatus office of priest, monastic life, fr. L. clericus priest, LL. scholar, clerc. Both the Old French words meant clergy, in sense 1, the former having also sense 2. See Clerk.]

WikidataRate this definition:4.5 / 4 votes

1. Clergy

   Clergy are some of the formal leaders within certain religions. The roles and functions of clergy vary in different religious traditions but these usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the terms used for individual clergy are "cleric", "clergyman", "clergywoman", "clergyperson" and "churchman". In Christianity the specific names and roles of clergy vary by denomination and there is a wide range of formal and informal clergy positions, including deacons, priests, bishops, preachers, pastors, and ministers. In Shia Islam, a religious leader is often known as an imam or ayatollah. In Jewish tradition, a religious leader is often a rabbi or hazzan.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Clergy

   klėr′ji, n. the ministers of the Christian religion, as holders of an allotted office, in contradistinction to the laity.—adjs. Cler′gyable, Cler′giable, entitled to or admitting of the benefit of clergy.—ns. Cler′gyman, one of the clergy, a regularly ordained minister; Cler′gy-wom′an, a woman belonging to a clergyman's family.—adjs. Cler′ic, -al, belonging to the clergy: pertaining to a clerk.—ns. Cler′ic, a clergyman; Cler′icalism, undue influence of the clergy, sacerdotalism; Cler′icate, clerical position; Cleric′ity, state of being a clergyman; Cler′isy, the class of learned men, scholars.—Clergyman's sore throat, chronic pharyngitis.—Benefit of clergy, originally an exemption of clergymen, in certain cases, from criminal process before a secular judge, but later covering the first offence of all who could read.—Black clergy, in Russia, the regular or monastic, as distinct from the secular or parochial, clergy. [Fr. clergé—L.,—Gr. klērikos, from klēros, a lot, then the clergy.]

Matched Categories

1. • Priesthood

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'clergy' in Nouns Frequency: #2469

How to pronounce clergy?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say clergy in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of clergy in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of clergy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of clergy in a Sentence

1. Barbara Blaine:

   Those who commit clergy sex crimes are sometimes charged. But those who conceal those crimes are rarely charged, we hope these charges will prompt more victims, witnesses and whistleblowers to come forward, call police, expose wrongdoers, protect kids and start healing.

2. Craig Greenberg:

   We are weary. We are tired. We have had enough gun violence in Louisville. We have had enough gun violence in our country and it is time to take action. And so as mayor, I know I will be working with elected officials … with clergy with anyone who wants to be a part of the solution to take whatever actions we can to encourage our state legislatures to take action to give us more tools to end gun violence.

3. Tom Berlin:

   Some churches will begin to do what they desire. They will test this new legislation by performing marriages and some conferences will ordain gay clergy.

4. Herbert Hensley Henson:

   Men are doubtful and skeptical about the Church they suspect and dislike the clergy they are impatient of theological systems but for Jesus Christ, as he stand out to view in the sacred pages, as they dimly realize him in their own best selves, as they catch faint traces of him in the lives of his saints, they have no other sentiments than those of respect and affection.

5. Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston:

   It would be perilous for us, as leaders of the Church, to consider that the scandal of clergy sexual abuse is for the most part a matter of history and not a pressing concern here and now, its not a pleasant topic. It's easier just to ignore it and hope it will go away (but) when we are defensive and secretive, the results are disastrous.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=clergy
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Clergy
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=clergy
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clergy
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clergy
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=clergy
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=clergy