clergyman

[ klur-jee-muhn ]

noun

, plural cler·gy·men.

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

clergyman

/ ˈklɜːdʒɪmən /

noun

1. a member of the clergy Gender-neutral formvicarpriest

Word History and Origins

Origin of clergyman¹

First recorded in 1570–80; clergy + -man

Example Sentences

Women and girls who became pregnant outside marriage were sent to the laundries by their families, welfare authorities, the courts, police, clergymen and church organisations.

From BBC

Among the clergymen cited in the lawsuits that were settled Wednesday, Father Michael Baker is one of the priests with the most victims.

From Los Angeles Times

With other prominent Black clergymen, he helped to win the release of Nelson Mandela and end apartheid in South Africa.

From Salon

Normally, avant-garde financial tools might come from, well, the financial avant-garde -- bankers, merchants, and investors hunting for short-term profits, not clergymen.

From Science Daily

Safronov was among the clergymen who signed a public letter calling for the remains to be returned to his family.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

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