cleric
C1Formal, Literary, Ecclesiastical
Definition
Meaning
A member of the clergy; a religious leader or official in a religion, especially Christianity.
More broadly, a person ordained for religious duties in any religion; a priest, minister, or similar figure.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Inherently tied to formal religious institutions and ordination. Often used in historical or fantasy contexts (e.g., Dungeons & Dragons). Less common in everyday speech than 'priest' or 'minister'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in definition. Both use it in formal/ecclesiastical contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK English in formal news reporting (e.g., 'senior cleric'). In US English, may sound more archaic or specifically tied to high-church traditions.
Frequency
Low frequency in both dialects, with marginally higher use in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[cleric] of [religious group/nation][Adjective] clericVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cleric of the cloth (archaic)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, theology, and religious studies to denote ordained religious figures across traditions.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used in news reports about religious statements.
Technical
Core class in fantasy role-playing games (e.g., a healing cleric).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bishop was clericked in a modest ceremony. (rare, archaic)
American English
- (No standard verb form in contemporary use)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form)
American English
- (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- He wore his cleric garments with pride. (archaic, 'clerical' is standard)
American English
- The cleric robes were traditional. (archaic, 'clerical' is standard)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not typically taught at this level)
- The cleric gave a sermon on Sunday.
- A prominent Muslim cleric issued a statement condemning the violence.
- The political influence of senior clerics in the country has been a subject of intense debate for decades.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CLERIC' contains 'CLERK' – both are formal roles; a cleric is a religious 'clerk' of God.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY IS A HIERARCHICAL POSITION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'клерк' (clerk/office worker). The Russian cognate 'клирик' is highly specialised and rare. The common translation is 'священнослужитель'.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing as /slerɪk/. Using it for any religious person instead of an ordained one. Confusing it with 'clerical' (office work).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'cleric' MOST commonly used today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but 'cleric' is a broader, more formal term covering ordained members of various religions, while 'priest' is often specific to certain Christian denominations or pagan religions.
Yes, absolutely. While historically male-dominated, 'cleric' is a gender-neutral term for any ordained religious official.
It's a standard term borrowed from medieval and fantasy literature for a character class specializing in healing and divine magic, popularised by games like Dungeons & Dragons.
'Clergy' is a collective noun for the body of all religious officials (e.g., 'the clergy'). A 'cleric' is an individual member of that body.