Synonyms of clergy

clergy

noun

ˈklər-jē 

as in church

the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church

when people find out she's a member of the clergy, they suddenly change their manner

Synonyms & Similar Words

• church
• episcopate
• priesthood
• spirituality
• ministry
• hierarchy
• cloth
• spiritualty
• first estate
• presbytery
• diaconate
• clerkship
• monkhood

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• laity

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of clergy

Though Rome was not convinced (Columbus had not, to anyone’s knowledge, performed any miracles), in 1892, Pope Leo XIII did issue a special encyclical calling on all clergy in the Americas and in Europe to hold a special Mass each Columbus Day. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026

Wyatt’s life-changing encounter with the divine happened without a congregation or clergy. — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

In addition to lawmakers, the event featured clergy who spoke about AI’s impact on faith, parents whose teenage children had committed suicide after engaging with chatbots, and economists concerned about the mass displacement of the workforce. — Toluse Olorunnipa, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026

Sierra’s mother also spoke to a member of the Santería clergy days before his arrest. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026