Meanings
nounsecular clergy (uncountable)
- uncountableChristianityOne of two branches of the clergy, composed of deacons and priests who are not monastics and do not belong to religious orders.
Synonyms & antonyms
Opposite
religious clergy
Origin
- Latinclerici saeculares
- Englishsecular clergy
secular + clergy, learned borrowing from Latin clerici saeculares, clēricī + saeculārēs
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Vietnamese tăng lữ thế tục, giáo sĩ triều
- tăng lữ thế tụcdeacons and priests other than monastics
- giáo sĩ triềudeacons and priests other than monastics
- dòng triềudeacons and priests other than monastics
Cite this entry
APA
secular clergy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/secular%20clergy
MLA
“secular clergy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/secular%20clergy. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “secular clergy,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/secular%20clergy.
Source: secular clergy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.