Added 9 October 2026
clergy
/ˈklɜːdʒi/ noun
Latin root: clēricātus Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about clergy at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- In Christianity, clergymen collectively (as distinguished from the laity).
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)