Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for clerical on Thesaurus.com of, pertaining to, appropriate for, or assigned to an office clerk or clerks : a clerical job. doing the work of a clerk or clerks : a clerical assistant; a clerical staff. of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy or a member of the clergy : clerical garb. advocating the power or influence of the clergy in politics, government, etc.: a clerical party. Show More
a cleric . clericals, Informal clerical garments. a person or a party advocating the power or influence of the church in politics, government, etc. a person who does clerical work; office worker; clerk . Also called clerical error. a minor error, as in the keeping of records, the transcribing of documents, or the handling of correspondence. Show More
Origin of clerical 1425–75 for sense “learned”;
1585–95 for def 3 ;
late Middle English <
Late Latin clēricālis, equivalent to
clēric(us )
cleric +
-ālis -al1 Related forms 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 Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for clerical pastoral ,
ministerial ,
monastic ,
ecclesiastical ,
rabbinical ,
accounting ,
bookkeeping ,
office ,
subordinate ,
written ,
clerkly ,
scribal ,
stenographic ,
typing ,
canonical ,
ecclesiastic ,
holy ,
papal ,
pontifical ,
sacerdotal Examples from the Web for clerical Contemporary Examples of clerical Padre Goyo, with his clerical collar and his bulletproof vest, is an icon for those fighting drugs and corruption.
They are meant to show that the Church has adopted a new line of transparency on clerical sex abuse.
There are emails so recent, they call into question just how much of the clerical abuse is still going on.
Instead, Clohessy accuses Cardinal George and dozens of his clerical colleagues of opting to put their own reputations first.
But some reflects the impact of the ever more powerful Clerical regime, whose expansive regulatory power undermines small firms.
Historical Examples of clerical This General Conference was strictly a clerical organization.
She had never seen him in his clerical dress, so she could not have recognised him yet.
It is true that his practical experience of his clerical life was very slender.
"You see, they want to get married," said the man with the clerical hat.
"Our clerical friend does not realize the importance of his own point," he said softly.
British Dictionary definitions for clerical relating to or associated with the clergy clerical dress of or relating to office clerks or their work a clerical error supporting or advocating clericalism Show More
Derived Forms clerically , adverb Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for clerical adj. 1590s, "pertaining to the clergy," from cleric + -al (1), or from French clérical , from Old French clerigal "learned," from Latin clericalis , from clericus (see cleric ). Meaning "pertaining to clerks" is from 1798.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
