clergyman

This term specifically denotes a male ordained minister. While the broader term clergy refers to the collective body of ordained leaders, clergyman focuses on the individual. It carries a formal and traditional connotation, often evoking images of established church hierarchies and community leadership. Because the word is gender-specific, it is frequently replaced in modern, inclusive contexts by the gender-neutral term minister or member of the clergy. It is a countable noun that follows standard English pluralization rules.