priesthood

/ˈpristhʊd/

/ˈpristhʊd/

Other forms: priesthoods

Priesthood is the position of a religious leader, especially one in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Orthodox church. The word is also used to collectively describe all priests.

In some churches, priests are the clergy members who lead worship services and perform religious rituals. The word priesthood is often used to talk about them as a whole: "The Catholic priesthood is reserved for men, while women can serve as nuns." An individual priest might define his own priesthood as focused on serving the poor in his community. Priesthood is from priest and its Greek root meaning "elder," and -hood, "state or condition of being."

Definitions of priesthood

1. noun

   the body of ordained religious practitioners
   types:

   ministry

   religious ministers collectively (especially Presbyterian)

   rabbinate

   rabbis collectively

   clergy

   in Christianity, clergymen collectively (as distinguished from the laity)

   pastorate

   pastors collectively

   prelacy, prelature

   prelates collectively

   cardinalate

   cardinals collectively

   type of:

   profession

   the body of people in a learned occupation