clergy
C1Formal, Ecclesiastical
Definition
Meaning
The body of all people ordained for religious duties in the Christian church, typically as priests, ministers, or bishops.
The collective group of religious leaders authorized to perform sacred rituals and provide spiritual leadership in an organized religion. Can also be used more broadly for formal religious leadership in other faiths, though primarily Christian.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A collective noun, always singular in form but plural in meaning. Refers to the group as an institution or body, not to individual members. An individual member is a "clergyman", "clergywoman", or "member of the clergy".
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. In the UK, the term is strongly associated with the established church (Church of England) and its hierarchy. In the US, it applies more generically across denominations.
Connotations
In the UK, can carry connotations of establishment, tradition, and social hierarchy. In the US, the term is more neutral, focusing on the professional religious role.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English due to historical and legal contexts involving the established church.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the clergy + singular verb (e.g., The clergy is divided on the issue.)adjective + clergy (e.g., the Anglican clergy)clergy + of + place (e.g., the clergy of the diocese)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Benefit of clergy (historical legal privilege)”
- “Separation of clergy and state (variation on church/state)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in contexts like 'clergy housing allowance' or 'clergy pensions'.
Academic
Common in history, sociology of religion, and theological studies.
Everyday
Used in news reports about church matters or formal discussions of religion.
Technical
Standard term in canon law, ecclesiology, and religious studies.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective. The adjectival form is 'clerical'.
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective. The adjectival form is 'clerical'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The priest talked to the people.
- The local clergy often meet to discuss community issues.
- The new policy caused a rift between the clergy and the church administration.
- Medieval clergy wielded significant political as well as spiritual influence, a power dynamic that shifted markedly after the Reformation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CLERGy' as the 'CLERical GuY's' - the group of clerical (religious) people.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CLERGY IS A PROFESSIONAL BODY (like doctors or lawyers), THE CLERGY IS A SEPARATE CLASS (distinct from the ordinary people/laity).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as "духовенство" when referring to a single priest; use "священник". "Clergy" is a collective. "Духовенство" is the correct collective translation.
- Avoid confusing with "clerk" (клерк).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable plural (e.g., 'three clergies' – incorrect; say 'three clergy members' or 'three clergymen').
- Using a plural verb (e.g., 'The clergy are' is sometimes accepted but 'The clergy is' is more grammatically standard for the collective entity).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses the word 'clergy' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a singular collective noun. It takes a singular verb when referring to the body as a unit (e.g., The clergy supports the decision). However, a plural verb is sometimes used, especially in British English, when focusing on the individuals within the group.
'Clergy' is the collective term for the group. A 'cleric' (or 'clergyman'/'clergywoman') is an individual member of that group.
While its primary and most common use is for Christian religious leaders, it is sometimes applied by analogy to formal religious leaders in other faiths (e.g., 'Buddhist clergy'), though terms like 'monastic community' or 'religious leadership' may be more precise.
The direct opposite is 'laity', which refers to all the ordinary members of a religious group who are not part of its ordained leadership.
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