Clergyman
/ˈklɜːrdʒɪmən/
nounBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
A man who is a priest, minister, or rabbi.
/ˈklɜːrdʒɪmən/
nounneutralBeginner
General
A male member of the clergy
The clergyman blessed the newlyweds.
💡 Simply: A clergyman is like a boss in a church, leading prayers and helping people.
👶 For kids: A man who works at a church and helps people.
More Examples
2
Many clergymen participated in the interfaith service.
How It's Used
Religion
"The clergyman delivered a powerful sermon on Sunday."
From Middle English *clerk + man. 'Clerk' ultimately derives from Latin *clericus, meaning 'cleric', a member of the clergy.
The term has been used since the Middle Ages, reflecting the historical role of the clergy in society.
Memory tip
Think 'clerk' (like a secretary in a church) + 'man'.
Practice
Base: clergy
clergmenclergyman
Usage
10%Spoken
90%Written