priesthood

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablereligion

   The role or office of a priest, or the calling to serve in it.

   Grammar: Usually has no article when it means the role: he entered the priesthood.

   Patterns

   • enter the priesthood
   • be called to the priesthood

   After years of study, he entered the priesthood at thirty.

   She felt a strong pull toward the priesthood, but her church did not ordain women.

   His brother left the priesthood to get married.

2. 2nounsingularreligion

   All the priests of a religion or region, taken together as a body.

   Grammar: Treated as one group; it takes the: the priesthood has changed its rules.

   Patterns

   • the priesthood of something
   • members of the priesthood

   The priesthood of the ancient temple guarded its secret rituals.

   Reforms were debated among the priesthood for decades.

   Local people trusted the priesthood to settle disputes.

3. 3noununcountablereligionspecialist

   In some Christian groups, the right or duty of ordinary believers or all worshippers to take part in ministry.

   Grammar: Appears in the phrase priesthood of all believers.

   Patterns

   • the priesthood of all believers

   Protestant reformers promoted the priesthood of all believers.

   The pastor spoke about the priesthood of every member of the church.

   Luther's idea of priesthood challenged the authority of Rome.

Word forms

Common combinations

enter the priesthood

He decided to enter the priesthood after university.

leave the priesthood

She left the priesthood after a crisis of faith.

call to the priesthood

A call to the priesthood often comes slowly.

ordained to the priesthood

He was ordained to the priesthood last June.

the ancient priesthood

The ancient priesthood kept records of the harvests.

Synonyms and how they differ

clergy

Clergy covers all ordained ministers of a church, while priesthood names the priestly office or the priests alone.

ministry

Ministry is wider and includes pastors and lay service, whereas priesthood is tied to priests and sacred rites.

holy orders

Holy orders refers to the ordination itself, while priesthood describes the state of being a priest.

Opposites

Word family

priest noun

a person authorized to perform religious rites

priestly adjective

relating to or typical of a priest

priestess noun

a woman who performs rites in some religions

priestcraft noun

the skills or influence of priests, often used critically

Commonly confused: priesthood or clergy?

Practice

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