clergyperson

[ klur-jee-pur-suhn ]

noun

1. a member of the clergy.
2. an ordained Christian minister.

Gender Note

Is it clergyman, clergywoman, or clergyperson? See -person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of clergyperson¹

First recorded in 1975–80; clergy(man) + -person

Example Sentences

Chaplains, traditionally a clergyperson ministering outside of a congregation, have long served in the U.S.

From Seattle Times

That’s a choice for each clergyperson to make.

From Seattle Times

Often, a clergyperson is on hand.

From Seattle Times

Four bishops and one clergyperson abstained.

From Washington Times

“I think an average clergyperson who wants to do what’s right might overreport. … Then what happened in Pennsylvania could happen — the system is overflooded. What if the system can’t respond to the ones that are really important, that they should respond to?”

From Washington Post