clerical

[ kler-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, appropriate for, or assigned to an office clerk or clerks:

   a clerical job.

2. doing the work of a clerk or clerks:

   a clerical assistant;

   a clerical staff.

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy or a member of the clergy:

   clerical garb.

4. advocating the power or influence of the clergy in politics, government, etc.:

   a clerical party.

noun

1. a cleric.
2. clericals, Informal. clerical garments.
3. a person or a party advocating the power or influence of the church in politics, government, etc.
4. a person who does clerical work; office worker; clerk.
5. Also called clerical error. a minor error, as in the keeping of records, the transcribing of documents, or the handling of correspondence.

clerical

/ ˈklɛrɪkəl /

adjective

1. relating to or associated with the clergy

   clerical dress

2. of or relating to office clerks or their work

   a clerical error

3. supporting or advocating clericalism

Derived Forms

• ˈclerically, adverb

Other Words From

• cler·i·cal·i·ty noun
• cler·i·cal·ly adverb
• in·ter·cler·i·cal adjective
• non·cler·i·cal adjective noun
• non·cler·i·cal·ly adverb
• pre·cler·i·cal adjective
• pro·cler·i·cal adjective
• pseu·do·cler·i·cal adjective
• pseu·do·cler·i·cal·ly adverb
• qua·si-cler·i·cal adjective
• qua·si-cler·i·cal·ly adverb
• sem·i·cler·i·cal adjective
• sem·i·cler·i·cal·ly adverb
• un·cler·i·cal adjective
• un·cler·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of clerical¹

1425–75 for sense “learned”; 1585–95 clerical fordef 3; late Middle English < Late Latin clēricālis, equivalent to clēric ( us ) cleric + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Iran’s clerical rulers are depicted as well-meaning moderates whose sincere and persistent overtures to the United States have been rebuffed by presidents of both political parties.

From Washington Post

He moved to London in 1940, where he did clerical work for the British army and later played concerts for the troops and in factories.

From Washington Post

Jackie Walorski of Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, said in a tweet that she supported the lawsuit but wasn’t included on the list due to a clerical error.

From Washington Post

Sitting on the current board are two members who previously worked clerical jobs within the department and one who formerly worked inside a prison as a correctional counselor.

From ProPublica

It would exclude truck drivers, clerical, maintenance and engineering employees, and supervisors, among others.

From Washington Post

Padre Goyo, with his clerical collar and his bulletproof vest, is an icon for those fighting drugs and corruption.

From The Daily Beast

They are meant to show that the Church has adopted a new line of transparency on clerical sex abuse.

From The Daily Beast

There are emails so recent, they call into question just how much of the clerical abuse is still going on.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, Clohessy accuses Cardinal George and dozens of his clerical colleagues of opting to put their own reputations first.

From The Daily Beast

But some reflects the impact of the ever more powerful Clerical regime, whose expansive regulatory power undermines small firms.

From The Daily Beast

The seed of discontent was again germinating under the duplicity of the Spanish lay and clerical authorities.

From Project Gutenberg

To give him a party name, he became an anti-clerical, strictly in a political and lawful sense.

From Project Gutenberg

Joseph, with his liberal ideas, had attempted to free the people from clerical thraldom.

From Project Gutenberg

The clerical staff in all the offices had combined and presented a petition in the highest quarter.

From Project Gutenberg

A country squire introduced his baboon, in clerical habits, to say grace.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ecclesiastical
• ministerial
• monastic
• pastoral
• rabbinical