# clergy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈklɜːdʒi/ · frequency rank #10,511

## Definitions
1. A body of persons, such as priests, who are trained and ordained for religious service.

## Etymology
From Middle English clergie (attested in the 13th century), from Old French clergie (“learned men”), from Late Latin clēricātus, from Latin clēricus (“one ordained for religious services”), from Ancient Greek κληρικός (klērikós, “of the clergy”). Equivalent to cleric + -ate.

## Easily confused with
- **clerk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clergy-vs-clerk)
- **cleric** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clergy-vs-cleric)
- **clerks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clergy-vs-clerks)
- **clingy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clergy-vs-clingy)
- **Clegg** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clegg-vs-clergy)
- **clary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clary-vs-clergy)
- **cherry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cherry-vs-clergy)
- **celery** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/celery-vs-clergy)
- **cleary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cleary-vs-clergy)
- **clearly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/clearly-vs-clergy)

## Common misspellings (10)
`cclergy`, `celrgy`, `clegry`, `clerggy`, `clergyy`, `clerrgy`, `cleryg`, `cllergy`, `clregy`, `lcergy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/clergy