cleric C2+ Topic:People & Society US /ˈklɛrɪk/ UK /ˈklɛrɪk/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a member of the clergy; an ordained religious official A local cleric presided over the wedding ceremony. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · a member of the clergy; an... clergymanpriestministerchurchmanecclesiasticparsondivine ↔ Opposites layman Word family Derived forms clericalism Related forms clericalclergyclerkclericate Etymology AI details From Late Latin clericus 'clergyman', from Ancient Greek klērikos 'belonging to the clergy', from klēros 'lot, inheritance'. clericus Latin klērikos Ancient Greek klēros Ancient Greek View etymology graph -> Topics People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # cleric **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈklɛrɪk/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈklɛrɪk/ ## Meanings 1. a member of the clergy; an ordained religious official ## Examples - A local cleric presided over the wedding ceremony. ## Synonyms - clergyman - priest - minister - churchman - ecclesiastic - parson - divine ## Antonyms - layman ## Derived Forms - clericalism ## Related Forms - clerical - clergy - clerk - clericate ## Roots and Affixes - Root: clericus - Root: klērikos - Root: klēros ## Etymology From Late Latin clericus 'clergyman', from Ancient Greek klērikos 'belonging to the clergy', from klēros 'lot, inheritance'. ## AI Etymology Cleric comes from Late Latin clericus 'clergyman', from Ancient Greek klērikos 'belonging to the clergy', from klēros 'lot, inheritance'. The historical trail runs through Latin clericus, Ancient Greek klērikos and Ancient Greek klēros. In modern use it means a member of the clergy; an ordained religious official. Derived formations include clericalism; related forms include clerical, clergy, clerk, clericate. ## Topics - People & Society - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown