Definition of clergynext
as in church
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church when people find out she's a member of the clergy, they suddenly change their manner

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clergy Where is the indignation about this from politicians, community leaders and clergy? Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026 Religious groups have documented a rise in acts of harassment and violence against Christian pilgrims and clergy as well as Palestinian Christian residents, including assaults and spitting, often by ultra-Orthodox Jewish yeshiva students. Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026 For years, Christian clergy who live and work in Jerusalem have reported being frequently spat on, harassed and even physically attacked by Israeli extremists. Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026 There were all kinds of problems with the clergy there. Belinda Luscombe, Time, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clergy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clergy
Noun
  • Treva Edwards, 61, founded and ran a church named Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost in the Newark suburb of Orange.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 21 May 2026
  • Both Catholic and Protestant Europe built imposing churches to the glory of their versions of God, and bells were their voices.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Noun
  • The diaconate represents the Church’s third degree of holy orders, below the presbyterate, or priests, and episcopate, or bishops.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
  • Vatican observers have long speculated that Francis saw Prevost as a potential successor, especially given his rapid rise and central role in shaping the modern episcopate.
    Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Clergy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clergy. Accessed 24 May. 2026.

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