cleric

[ kler-ik ]

noun

1. a member of the clergy.
2. a member of a clerical party.
3. clerics, (used with a plural verb) half-sized or small-sized reading glasses worn on the nose, usually rimless or with a thin metal frame.

adjective

1. pertaining to the clergy; clerical.

cleric

/ ˈklɛrɪk /

noun

1. a member of the clergy

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleric¹

1615–25; < Late Latin clēricus priest < Greek klērikós, equivalent to klêr ( os ) lot, allotment + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleric¹

C17: from Church Latin clēricus priest, clerk

Example Sentences

He argued it was "fundamentally unfair" for a block of clerics to "have a right and a say over our legislation".

From BBC

The new Hezbollah leadership was expected to be passed to cleric Hashem Safieddine, but on 22 October it was revealed that he had been killed in an Israeli air strike nearly three weeks prior.

From BBC

The Israeli military say they killed the cleric tipped to succeed the late Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an air strike nearly three weeks ago.

From BBC

Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish cleric accused of masterminding a bloody attempted coup in 2016, has died aged 83, according to Turkish media reports and a social media post by a movement close to him.

From BBC

Hardline clerics and militants have campaigned against vaccination, falsely claiming it is a Western conspiracy to sterilise Muslims.

From BBC

Related Words

• chaplain
• clergyman
• minister
• priest
• rabbi