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cleric

cleric

53 6.4
A religious leader who leads services and prayers in a church
  • noun
  • /ˈklɛrɪk/
translation icon : clérigo
  • The cleric delivered a powerful sermon during the Sunday service.
  • a Muslim cleric
  • a radical cleric
  • a prominent cleric

Because it might in, in the words of one Saudi cleric, damage their virginity.

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Examples

  • Mesbah-Yazdi is not the only senior cleric who endorses Ahmadinejad's messianism.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The Saudi government began to arrest clerics who supported terrorism.

    Academic text (2008)
  • And what about the cleric?

  • Are you the cleric who called about a giraffe?

  • Behind him, the guardsmen and the young cleric came to a stop.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • You're telling me that the cleric and this gang are working together?

  • I've gotta see a cleric in Milan.

  • Almost without exception, clerics used a narrow selection of scripture to support their case against dancing.

    Academic text (1999)
  • A number of prominent clerics have expressed dismay and anger at Ahmadinejad's treatment of them.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Politicians and clerics have denounced the awarding of contracts to countries that backed the UN sanctions.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

priest
vscleric
1.0

A person who leads religious ceremonies and worship in a church or temple

is the broader ordained person term rather than a ritual specialist
pastor
vscleric
329 3.0

A religious leader who cares for and leads a Christian church, usually in Protestant churches

is the general ordained person, not limited to church leadership roles
minister
vscleric
279 2.6

A religious leader who leads worship and helps people

is the general ordained person term rather than denomination specific
bishop
vscleric
210 3.9

A senior church leader who supervises priests in a group of local churches

is the general ordained person rather than one who oversees others
reverend
vscleric
101 5.2

A Christian church leader often given a formal title before their name

is the actual ordained person rather than a title or address
chaplain
vscleric
96 7.2

A religious person who leads services and gives support at schools, hospitals, or in the army

is the general ordained person rather than one attached to institutions
deacon
vscleric
31 7.4

A church leader below a priest who helps with services and charity

is the general ordained person rather than a lower ranked official
archbishop
vscleric
31 7.2

A senior bishop who leads a large church area in some Christian churches

is the general ordained person rather than the top regional leader
vicar
vscleric
18 5.4

A Christian priest in charge of a local church

is the general ordained person rather than a local church representative
clergyman
vscleric
15 4.7

A man who leads services and gives spiritual help in a church

is the general ordained person term not limited by gender
high priest
vscleric
15 7.2

A senior religious leader who leads important ceremonies for a religion

is the ordinary ordained person rather than the supreme ritual leader
prelate
vscleric
  • Jargon
12 9.1

A senior church leader who has authority over other clergy

is the general ordained person rather than a high authority figure
man of the cloth
vscleric
11 6.7

A man who works as a religious leader, like a priest

is the formal ordained person expression rather than a casual phrase
rector
vscleric
5 7.8

A church leader who leads services and cares for a local church

is the general ordained person, not specifically the parish head
curate
vscleric
  • UK
5 8.8

A member of the church who helps a priest with services and care

is the general ordained person rather than an assisting role
divine
vscleric
  • Archaic
5 8.1

A person who is a Christian priest or religious teacher

is the general ordained person rather than a specialist in study
canon
vscleric
5 9.0

A priest who is a member of a cathedral's group of church leaders

is the general ordained person rather than a cathedral chapter member
dean
vscleric
  • Formal
2 7.6

The senior cardinal who leads the College of Cardinals and its ceremonies

is the general ordained person rather than the college leader role
churchman
vscleric
1 6.0

A man who leads or works in a Christian church

is the specific ordained person rather than a general church worker
archdeacon
vscleric
1 9.9

A senior Christian church leader under a bishop who manages part of a church district

is the general ordained person rather than a senior administrative officer
3.8

A person who leads religious services and performs ceremonies

is the general ordained person rather than a formal legal title
clergywoman
vscleric
7.0

A woman who is a religious leader in the Christian church

is the general ordained person term not limited by gender
ecclesiastic
vscleric
  • Formal
9.9

A person who works as a priest or minister in the Christian church

is the ordinary ordained person term rather than a formal label
vicar-general
vscleric
  • Formal
9.9

A priest who helps a bishop run a group of churches

is the general ordained person rather than a bishop's deputy
ordainer
vscleric
  • Formal
9.9

A religious leader like a bishop who officially makes someone a priest or minister in a ceremony

is the general ordained person rather than the one who ordains
sacramentary
vscleric
  • Archaic
9.9

A person who helps with church sacraments such as baptism or communion

is the general ordained person rather than this archaic assisting role

How Important

dean
  • Formal
2 7.6
cleric
53 6.4
beadle
  • UK
3 9.9
usher
60 3.7
volunteer
7 3.5

Surface Forms

cleric singular
clerics plural

Etymology

Cleric comes from an old word meaning 'chosen' or 'set apart' for a special role, and long ago that often meant people who could read and worked for the church. That's why cleric today means a member of the clergy, and it is related to the word clerk, which also began as a name for a church worker who 'could read'.