What does clergyman mean?
A clergyman is a man who has been formally ordained to perform religious duties, typically within a Christian church. Clergymen lead worship services, preach sermons, administer sacraments such as baptism and communion, officiate at weddings and funerals, and offer pastoral care and spiritual guidance to their congregations. The term is respectful and mildly formal, though it has grown somewhat old-fashioned as many institutions now prefer gender-neutral language such as "cleric," "minister," or simply "member of the clergy." The word derives from "clergy," which itself traces back through Old French to the Late Latin "clericus," meaning a member of the clergy — a root it shares with "clerk" and "cleric," reflecting the medieval reality that literacy was largely confined to churchmen. Common collocations include "ordained clergyman," "parish clergyman," and "retired clergyman." Its natural counterpart is "layman," denoting someone without ordination.
nounA clergyman is a man who is ordained for religious duties and service, especially within the Christian church.
- A man ordained to conduct Christian religious worship, administer sacraments, and provide spiritual leadership.
"The village clergyman visited every household after the flood to offer comfort and practical help."
"The elderly clergyman delivered a moving sermon on forgiveness."
"As a young clergyman in a rural parish, he came to know every family by name."
Standard irregular plural following the man → men pattern; used when referring to multiple ordained men.
"Several clergymen from neighboring parishes gathered for the interfaith service."
Clergyman, clerk, and cleric all trace back to the same Latin word — for centuries, the only people who could read and write were often the same people leading the church.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of clergyman
Clergyman combines "clergy" with the agent suffix "-man," literally meaning "a man of the clergy." The underlying root is Late Latin "clericus," meaning a priest or churchman, borrowed from Greek "klērikos," meaning "of the clergy" — originally from "klēros," meaning "lot" or "inheritance," alluding to the idea that God was the inheritance of the clergy. English acquired "clergy" via Old French during the Middle Ages, and "clergyman" emerged in the early modern period. Cognate words sharing this lineage include "cleric," "clerical," and "clerk."
Related word forms
How clergyman is actually used
"Clergyman" is a somewhat traditional or dated term; modern usage increasingly favors gender-neutral alternatives such as "member of the clergy," "cleric," or "minister." The plural "clergymen" follows the standard -men pattern. The word carries a respectful, slightly formal tone and is most often associated with mainstream Protestant denominations, though it can apply broadly.
Easily confused with clergyman
Though both descend from the same Latin root 'clericus', a clerk is an office worker or record-keeper, while a clergyman is an ordained religious minister.
A clergyman is ordained to perform religious rites, whereas a layperson belongs to the congregation without ordination.