clergyman

IPA/ˈklɜːdʒimən/
KK[klˈɚdʒimən]IPA/ˈklɜːrdʒimən/

clergyman — noun

  • clergymansingular
  • clergymenplural

1. a man whose job is to lead religious services and guide a church community, used

1.nounB2
Definition

a man whose job is to lead religious services and guide a church community, used especially for Christian priests and ministers

Example

The clergyman at St. Anne's Church visits elderly parishioners every Tuesday afternoon.

collocation: clergyman at [church name]

Elena asked the clergyman to lead the funeral service for her grandmother.

pattern: clergyman + to-infinitive for requested action

Common collocations
  • ordained as a clergyman
  • clergyman at [church/cathedral]
  • parish clergyman
  • village clergyman
  • visiting clergyman
Synonyms
  • priest

    specifically Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican; performs sacraments

  • minister

    common in Protestant churches; emphasises serving the congregation

  • pastor

    used in evangelical and non-denominational churches; stresses guidance and care

  • vicar

    mainly British; a clergyman in charge of a parish in the Church of England

Antonyms
  • layperson

    a member of the church who is not ordained

  • layman

    same as layperson; often used in contrast with clergy

Grammar Patterns

clergyman + at + [church/cathedral]

Usage Note

Traditionally refers only to men; the gender-neutral alternative is 'clergyperson' or 'member of the clergy'. Not limited to one denomination — covers Anglican, Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions alike.

Common Mistakes

The priest visited the sick child in hospital.' (when the denomination is Lutheran).
The clergyman visited the sick child in hospital.
'priest' is specific to Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions; 'clergyman' works across all Christian denominations.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Clergyman is the broadest term for any ordained male Christian leader, spanning all denominations. Priest is narrower: it implies sacramental authority and is the standard term in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches. Minister is the preferred word in most Protestant traditions (Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist) and highlights serving the congregation. Pastor emphasises personal care and spiritual guidance; it is common in evangelical and non-denominational churches and can sometimes be used by laypeople, not only the ordained. Vicar is a specifically Church of England term for the clergyman in charge of a parish — if you say 'the vicar came to tea', you are almost certainly in a British village. When in doubt about someone's exact title or denomination, clergyman is the safest choice.

priest ↗minister ↗pastor ↗vicar ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • parish clergyman
  • village clergyman
  • country clergyman

Adverbs

Phrases

  • ordained as a clergyman
  • a visiting clergyman
  • the local clergyman

Prepositions

  • at (a church)
  • of (a parish)

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Formed by combining clergy (from Old French clergé, rooted in Late Latin clericatus, meaning the body of ordained Christian ministers) with man. The word appeared in English around the late 1500s, reflecting the long tradition of only men being admitted to holy orders. The feminine form clergywoman emerged much later, in the 19th century, as some Protestant denominations began ordaining women.