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.

Adhering to a strict interpretation of Roman Catholic tradition, the society holds masses in Latin celebrated by priests with their backs turned to the congregation.

From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026

Several Catholic priests told the news agency they had been asked to ration the wafers, which are offered to the faithful as part of Mass.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2026

He also trains other priests to be exorcists.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

I come from a family of priests and devoted Catholics.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

And he asked King Charles V of Spain for some priests to do the job.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann