clergyperson

[/ˈklɜːrdʒipɜːrsən/]
nounpl: clergypersons or clergy
clérigo/a
1. A member of the clergy; a person ordained or appointed to conduct religious services, such as a priest, minister, or pastor
The clergyperson delivered an inspiring sermon on Sunday.
O clérigo proferiu um sermão inspirador no domingo.
2. A gender-neutral term for a religious official or ecclesiastical person
Many clergypersons are now involved in social justice work.
Muitos clérigos agora estão envolvidos em trabalho de justiça social.
The term 'clergyperson' is a modern, gender-neutral alternative to 'clergyman' or 'clergywoman,' reflecting contemporary inclusive language practices. In Brazil, 'clérigo' is the formal ecclesiastical term, while 'padre' is widely used for Catholic priests and 'pastor' for Protestant ministers. The use of gender-neutral terminology is increasingly common in both American and Brazilian religious institutions to acknowledge clergy of all genders.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
clergy memberreligious officialecclesiasticministerpriestpastorreverend
Antonyms / Antônimos
laypersonsecular personcivilian

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
clérigo
Most common general term; can be masculine or feminine depending on context
General Brazilian Portuguese
padre
More specific for Catholic priests
General Brazilian Portuguese
pastor
Commonly used for Protestant ministers and evangelical leaders
Portugal
clérigo
Standard term in Portuguese; ecclesiastical person

Related Words

clergypriesthoodordinationecclesiasticalreligiouspastoral

Related Idioms & Phrases

man of the cloth
woman of the cloth
in holy orders
take holy orders
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