parish

[ par-ish ]

noun

1. an ecclesiastical district having its own church and member of the clergy.
2. a local church with its field of activity.
3. (in Louisiana) a county.
4. the people of an ecclesiastical or civil parish.
5. Curling. house ( def 21 ).

parish

/ ˈpærɪʃ /

noun

1. a subdivision of a diocese, having its own church and a clergyman parochial
2. the churchgoers of such a subdivision
3. (in England and, formerly, Wales) the smallest unit of local government in rural areas
4. (in Louisiana) a unit of local government corresponding to a county in other states of the US
5. the people living in a parish
6. on the parish
   history receiving parochial relief

Other Words From

• inter·parish adjective
• trans·parish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parish¹

1250–1300; Middle English, variant of parosshe < Middle French paroisse < Late Latin parochia, alteration of paroecia < Late Greek paroikía, derivative of Greek pároikos neighbor, (in Christian usage) sojourner ( paroicous ); -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of parish¹

C13: from Old French paroisse, from Church Latin parochia, from Late Greek paroikia, from paroikos Christian, sojourner, from Greek: neighbour, from para- ¹(beside) + oikos house

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the parish, British.
   1. receiving charity from local authorities.
   2. Informal. meagerly or inadequately supplied.

Example Sentences

The United States goes to the polls in more than 3,000 counties, parishes, and boroughs.

From Fortune

While modern evangelical churches have broadcast systems that would put most local PBS stations to shame, our 250-year-old country parish only recently had air-conditioning installed.

From Fortune

Evacuation orders have been issued for many parishes in Louisiana, including Calcasieu Parish where Lake Charles is located.

From Vox

LeBlanc’s son moved his family to a farm farther away from chemical plants in the parish because of his concern about air pollution, and his mother is moving there soon.

From ProPublica

Then, after Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana in 2005, the parish began to adopt a new identity.

From Quartz

Church bells pealed from St. Catherine of Siena parish one block away.

From The Daily Beast

According to Wahlberg, his time in prison, as well as the guidance of a parish priest, helped him turn his life around.

From The Daily Beast

Despite the multiple warnings, Bishop Finn chose to leave Ratigan in place in the parish.

From The Daily Beast

He claimed to be related to a quarter of the voters in Iberia Parish—sometimes to a full half of them.

From The Daily Beast

The parish priest Father Michele Iacono, dressed in purple vestments, blessed the bodies and performed last rights en masse.

From The Daily Beast

In the parish churches, many of which are of great interest, the predominant styles are Decorated and Perpendicular.

From Project Gutenberg

The taxes whether public, county, or parish, were payable in tobacco.

From Project Gutenberg

These residents then killed the parish priest, and without arms fled for safety to the mountain ravines.

From Project Gutenberg

A pretty boy of seven or eight years of age is chosen by each parish.

From Project Gutenberg

Her visitors took their leave, to spread the report over the village and parish of King's Warren.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• church