Imaginary priest is missing finale (7)
I believe the answer is:
pretend
'imaginary' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?
'priest is missing finale' is the wordplay.
'missing' is a deletion indicator.
'finale' becomes 'end' (the end of a story or show).
'priest' with 'is' removed is 'pret'.
'pret'+'end'='PRETEND'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pretend that I've seen before include "Simulate - make up" , "Profess falsely" , "Suppose" , "Imaginary, make-believe" , "make a false claim" .)