noun · formal
priesthood
/ˈpriːst.hʊd/PRIEST·hood
Band 5-6task2speaking
the office, position, or collective body of priests; the state of being a priest
Examples
“He decided to enter the priesthood after several years of volunteering.”
“Debates over celibacy in the priesthood have a long history.”
“The diocese is facing a shortage in the priesthood.”
Band 8 sentence
“European churches are re-evaluating training programmes as declining vocations put pressure on the future of the priesthood.”
Collocations
- enter the priesthood
- the priesthood of all believers
- shortage in the priesthood
Word family
priesthood noun
Common mistakes
a priest→priesthood
ministry→priesthood
Say it for a higher band
5clergy→6ministry→7+priesthood
Synonyms
clergy
Easily confused
ministry
“He left his secular job to study for the ministry.”
Related words
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In -hood
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