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Showing results for churchman. Search instead for churchmanly.
Synonyms

churchman

American  
[church-muhn] / ˈtʃɜrtʃ mən /

noun

plural

churchmen

  1. an ecclesiastic; clergyman.

  2. an adherent or active supporter of a church.

  3. British. a member of the Established Church.

churchman British  
/ ˈtʃɜːtʃmən /

noun

  1. a clergyman

  2. a male practising member of a church

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • churchmanly adjective
  • churchmanship noun

Etymology

Origin of churchman

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A churchman of exceptional rhetorical skill, Augustine was naturally drawn into doctrinal and intellectual controversies, in which he showed a fearsome determination that his views should win out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

But there’s no way to know who determined the imagery, conquered artist or conquering European churchman.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2021

In 1931, they stopped selling network airtime to Coughlin or any other churchman.

From Slate • Jan. 21, 2021

Loyalists had given the churchman a set of conditions which, if met, would allow their ceasefire to be announced first.

From BBC • Aug. 27, 2019

My dad gave him a firm shake and a tight-lipped nod, and the churchman headed out.

From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.