first estate

as in clergy
the group ordained to perform clerical functions in the Christian church a nation in which the first estate had long held a privileged position

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for first estate
Noun
  • Earlier this month, the DOJ launched an investigation into a Washington state law that requires clergy members to report information about child abuse or neglect obtained during confessions, without exemptions for Catholic priests' confessional privilege.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
  • The Swiss Army lined the outside of the Vatican among clergy and people waving patriotic indicators from around the globe in celebration of the leader of the Catholic Church emerging from the balcony and beginning his papacy.
    Gabriele Regalbuto, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • In 1860, members of Smith's immediate family and others who had rejected Young's leadership sought to reorganize the church Smith had led.
    Frank E. Lockwood, Arkansas Online, 24 May 2025
  • However, the meeting hardly quelled tensions between the two churches.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 May 2025
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Cite this Entry

“First estate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first%20estate. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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