priest someone who is specially trained to perform religious duties and ceremonies in the Christian church:
a Catholic priest a Buddhist priest Women priests are much more common these days. The priest who married us was very friendly and helpful.bishop a priest of high rank in some branches of the Christian church, who is the head of all the churches and priests in a large area:
the Bishop of Oxford a meeting of bishopsvicar a priest in the Church of England who is in charge of a church in a particular area:
our local vicarpreacher someone who gives the sermon
(=a religious talk as part of a church service) in some Protestant churches:
a Methodist preacherminister the formal word for any priest in some branches of the Christian church:
In 1843, 450 ministers of the church broke away from the established church of Scotland.chaplain someone, especially a priest, who takes care of the religious needs of an organization such as a college, hospital, prison, or the military:
the prison chaplainpastor American English someone who is in charge of the prayers, ceremonies etc in some branches of the Protestant church:
a Baptist pastorrabbi the person who is in charge of the prayers, ceremonies etc in the Jewish religion:
Israel’s chief rabbismullah a Muslim teacher of law and religion:
The people turned to their traditional leaders, the mullahs.holy man someone who is treated with great respect by people who belong to a religion:
A Sadhu, or Hindu holy man, was performing yoga on the banks of the River Ganges.the clergy the official leaders in organized religions, such as the priests, rabbis, and mullahs:
Around 30 members of the clergy gathered for the meeting.clergyman a male member of the clergy – used especially in the past:
His youngest son decided to become a clergyman. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲