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.

Almost all exorcists, at the urging of the Vatican, keep their identities secret, their role in battling the occult known only to the other priests in their diocese.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

I come from a family of priests and devoted Catholics.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

The pair visited Gammarelli, then the official tailor of the papacy, where he purchased an ankle-length black cassock, usually worn by priests.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026

More recently, in 2025, the vestments of Catholic priests inspired Dolce & Gabbana’s menswear collection.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

I remembered the Italian priests and bishops blessing Italian boys who were on their way to Ethiopia.

From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin