Clergy definition
Persons ordained for religious service; ministers, priests, rabbis, etc., collectively.
noun
The body of people ordained or recognized by a religious community as ritual or spiritual leaders.
noun
The definition of clergy are people that have been trained and approved for religious service.
An example of clergy are priests.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
clergy
Plural:
clergiesOrigin of clergy
- Middle English clergie from Old French (from Vulgar Latin clercīa) (from Late Latin clēricus clerk) and from Old French clergié body of clerks (from Vulgar Latin clercātus) (from Late Latin clēricātus) (from clēricus clerk, cleric)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Attested in the 13th Century CE; from clergie, from Old French clergié (“learned men”), from Late Latin clericātus, from Latin clericus (“one ordained for religious services”), from Ancient Greek κληρικός (klērikos, “of the clergy”).
From Wiktionary