priests

NOUN

man who is minister in roman or orthodox catholic church

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cleric elder father friar lama monk preacher rector

STRONG

curate divine ecclesiastic padre pontiff vicar

WEAK

clergyperson father confessor holy man man of God man of the cloth

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Priests as well as laymen view their religion as a liturgy celebrating Russia’s glorious history.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

Priests too are often immigrants themselves, putting the Church in an increasingly tenuous position.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

Priests, students, educators, and union organizers were prime targets.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2025

Priests in the diocese also made unusually direct complaints about him and asked a Vatican representative last year for “merciful relief” from his leadership.

From New York Times • Jun. 27, 2023

Priests come to the school to recruit us for the foreign missions, Redemptorists, Franciscans, Holy Ghost Fathers, all converting the distant heathen.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt