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.

parish

/ ˈpærɪʃ /

noun

1. a subdivision of a diocese, having its own church and a clergyman

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. history receiving parochial relief

Other Word Forms

• interparish adjective
• transparish 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,

   1. receiving charity from local authorities.

   2. Informal. meagerly or inadequately supplied.

Example Sentences

My teachers were nuns, the parish priests were Dominicans, and Sunday mass was a celebration of faith, humility and grace.

From Los Angeles Times

Insisting that God is on their side also enhances influencers’ sense of community with their followers, making some platforms almost seem like a parish.

From Salon

It added that their religion "compels" them to reach out to others in the area, with other parishes and with their sister school in Haiti.

From BBC

“We stand with these families and with this parish.”

From Salon

Black Catholics had their parishes, while white Catholics had nicer ones.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• church