French word

clergé

Pronunciation

IPA/klɛʁʒe/

Meaning

  • masculine nounclergy

Example

Le clergé participe souvent aux cérémonies religieuses.

The clergy often participate in religious ceremonies.

Illustration for clergé (clergy)

More examples

Le clergé local accompagne les familles en deuil.

The local clergy accompany grieving families.

Core concept

A church's organized body of people holding religious office.

Common phrases

  • un membre du clergé

    a member of the clergy

  • le clergé paroissial

    the parish clergy

  • les représentants du clergé

    representatives of the clergy

Similar words

prêtre: A Christian priest who leads worship, performs rites, and counsels believers.
curé: A Catholic parish priest responsible for worship and the care of parishioners.
pasteur: A Protestant religious leader who preaches, leads services, and guides believers.

Definition in French

Ensemble des personnes qui exercent des fonctions religieuses au sein d'une Église et qui forment un groupe organisé.

Word origin

Clergé comes through Old French clergie from ecclesiastical Latin clericatus, related to clericus and ultimately to Greek klêros, meaning a lot or share.

Usage tips

  • Clergé is normally a collective noun with singular agreement, as in le clergé participe souvent aux cérémonies religieuses.

Opposites

  • laïclaypersonnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word