clerical Hear it!

clerical definition

cleri·cal (kler′i 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

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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.

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.

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.

Modifying Another Word

  • purely: Volunteers are wanted to work on this project - which at the moment will be purely clerical.

Used with adjective complement

  • represent: UNISON represents clerical, library, ancillary and parks & gardens staff within the University.
clerical usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

clerical quotes

   How unpleasant to meet Mr Eliot! With his features of clerical cut, And his brow so grim And his mouth so prim.

-Eliot,T(homas) S(tearns)

clerical quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"clerical." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/clerical>

APA Style

clerical. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/clerical

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