clergy

From Middle English clergie (attested in the 13th century), from Old French clergie (“learned men”), from Late Latin clēricātus, from Latin clēricus (“one ordained for religious services”), from Ancient Greek κληρικός (klērikós, “of the clergy”). Equivalent to cleric +‎ -ate.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈklɜːdʒi/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈklɝd͡ʒi/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)dʒi

clergy (usually uncountable, plural clergies)

1. Body of persons, such as priests, who are trained and ordained for religious service.

   Today we brought together clergy from the Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, and Reformed traditions for ecumenical dialogue.

   • 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

     Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.

• cleric
• clerical
• clerisy
• clerk

• Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “clergy”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.