clerical

[ kler-i-kuh l ]
/ ˈklɛr ɪ kəl /

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

OTHER WORDS FROM clerical

Words nearby clerical

clergy, clergyman, clergyperson, clergywoman, cleric, clerical, clerical collar, clericalism, clericals, clerihew, clerisy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to non-clerical

secular, civil, materialistic, worldly, ordinary, temporal, material, lay, profane, inexpert, nonprofessional, nonspecialist, earthly, laic, nonreligious

Example sentences from the Web for non-clerical

British Dictionary definitions for non-clerical

clerical
/ (ˈklɛrɪkəl) /

adjective

relating to or associated with the clergyclerical dress
of or relating to office clerks or their worka clerical error
supporting or advocating clericalism

Derived forms of clerical

clerically, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012