clergy
[U] Uncountable
This term describes a distinct social class or professional group rather than a collection of individuals. It carries a formal, institutional weight, suggesting a boundary between those who hold sacred authority and the laypeople they serve. While it can refer to any faith, it is most frequently used in the context of Christian denominations. The word evokes a sense of tradition, hierarchy, and the spiritual stewardship of a community.
Used as a collective noun to describe the entire ordained class as a single entity, similar to how one refers to the nobility.