churchman

[ church-muhn ]

noun

, plural church·men.

1. an ecclesiastic; clergyman.
2. an adherent or active supporter of a church.
3. British. a member of the Established Church.

churchman

/ ˈtʃɜːtʃmən /

noun

1. a clergyman
2. a male practising member of a church

Derived Forms

• ˈchurchmanly, adjective
• ˈchurchmanˌship, noun

Other Words From

• churchman·ly adjective
• churchman·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of churchman¹

1350–1400; Middle English. See church, -man

Example Sentences

The place was populated by Marxists and anarchists, “churchmen and agnostics, freethinkers, Darwinists and spiritualists … and dress reform cranks.”

From Los Angeles Times

Portuguese Cardinal-elect Americo Aguiar, who is in charge of World Youth Day, is another young churchman who also understands his appointment as part of a generational turning point for the Catholic hierarchy.

From Seattle Times

An 1850 issue of The Dublin University Magazine said beaver tail was usually eaten during Lent by the "strict churchmen of Northern Germany," while the Canadian Journal of Industry, Science and Art wrote:

From Salon

I don’t mess with churchmen or my family.

From Washington Post

Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald enact the two churchmen whose experiences the story explores.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bishop
• chaplain
• cleric
• evangelist
• missionary
• pastor
• pontiff
• preacher
• priest
• rabbi