priesthood

/ˈpristˌhʊd/
noun
  1. The office, position, or role of being a priest in a religion.
    • The priesthood requires a life of service and dedication.
    • After years of study, she was ordained into the priesthood.
    • He felt a calling to the priesthood from a young age.
  2. All priests considered as a group; the priestly class or profession.
    • Throughout history, the priesthood has held great influence in many societies.
    • The priesthood gathered for the annual conference.
    • The reforms were supported by much of the priesthood.
  3. A group of people who are considered to have special authority or knowledge in a particular field (figurative).
    • Some see the legal profession as a kind of priesthood guarding the law.
    • In the world of classical music, conductors are treated like a priesthood.
    • The scientific priesthood often speaks a language that is hard for outsiders to understand.
Antonyms
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