clerical Hear it!

clerical Definition

cleri·cal (kleri kəl)

adjective

  1. relating to the clergy or one of its members
  2. relating to office clerks or their work
  3. favoring clericalism

Etymology: ME < LL(Ec) clericalis, clerical, priestly < clericus: see clerk

noun

  1. a member of the clergy
  2. clerics' garments
  3. a person who favors clericalism

clerical Related Forms

cleri·cally adverb

clerical Synonyms

clerical

modif.

  1. Concerning clerks

    secretarial, office, filing, typing, stenographic, accounting, bookkeeping, written, scribal, administrative, assistant, on the support staff, white-collar.

  2. Concerning the clergy

    ministerial, sacerdotal, priestly, pastoral, apostolic, monastic, theocratic, monkish, hierarchic, rabbinical, churchly, cleric, prelatic, papal, episcopal, canonical, pontifical, ecclesiastic, ordained, of the cloth, sacred, holy, ecclesiastical, parsonic, parsonish, in God's service, doing the Lord's work; see also divine 2.

    Antonyms lay, worldly*, civilian.

clerical Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • provide: Communications Administrator Contributing to the work of the Communications team by providing a comprehensive clerical and administrative service.
  • include: Working in a very modern office, within a purposely designed building the Customer Service roles will include some general clerical / administration work.
  • have: Associated with having the quot clerical a fixed dollar.
  • undertake: Staffing comprises of one emergency nurse practitioner per shift and is supported by a health care assistant, who undertakes clerical and nursing duties.

Adjective modifier

  • general: Working in a very modern office, within a purposely designed building the Customer Service roles will include some general clerical / administration work.
  • good: We are looking for someone who has good clerical, communication and organizational skills.
  • temporary: The University operates a temporary staff bank which is often able to offer a variety of temporary clerical or catering work in the University.
  • permanent: With seventeen offices, we specialize in the placement of temporary and permanent clerical and accountancy personnel across the Midlands and North of England.
  • senior: Specifically for senior clerical, technical and less senior administrative staff as 4 2-day modules between April and November.

Modifies a noun

  • celibacy: The Archbishop endeavors from time to time to enforce clerical celibacy, which is apparently not observed by some of his suffragan bishops.
  • assistant: Mrs Ann Bell arrived as a new clerical assistant.
  • collar: I do not see patients in a clerical collar.
  • garb: But why does he stare at her so, this shy and lonely Oxford don in clerical garb?
  • error: The Company reserves the right to correct any clerical errors made by its employees at any time.
  • robe: Why do all the characters seem to be wearing clerical robes?

Modifying Another Word

  • purely: Volunteers are wanted to work on this project - which at the moment will be purely clerical.
  • mainly: Mainly clerical positions, trainees work toward achievement of relevant NVQ's level 1-3.
  • exclusively: There is an emphasis on celebrating together rather than ' saying the Office ' as a private and exclusively clerical obligation.

Used with adjective complement

  • represent: UNISON represents clerical, library, ancillary and parks & gardens staff within the University.
  • do: I can only promote someone within the same category of staff - it won't let me do clerical to academic for example.

Browse dictionary entries near clerical

  1. cleric
  2. clergywoman
  3. clergyperson
  4. clergyman
  5. clergy
  6. clerestory
  7. cleptomania
  8. clepsydra
  9. clepe
  10. CLEP
  1. clerical collar
  2. clericalism
  3. clerihew
  4. clerisy
  5. clerk
  6. clerkly
  7. Clermont-Ferrand
  8. cleveite
  9. Cleveland
  10. Cleveland Heights