clerical
1 of 2adjective
cler·i·cal ˈkler-i-kəl 
ˈkle-ri-
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
2
: of or relating to a clerk
clerically
ˈkler-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb ˈkle-ri-
clerical
2 of 2noun
1
: a member of the clergy
2
: clericalist
3
: clerk
4
clericals plural : clerical garments
Synonyms
Adjective
- clerkly
- ministerial
- pastoral
- priestly
- sacerdotal
Noun
- clergyperson
- cleric
- clerk
- deacon
- divine
- dominie
- ecclesiastic
- minister
- preacher
- priest
- reverend
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective She spent the summer doing clerical work for a lawyer. a member of our clerical staff The mistake was due to a clerical error. Noun some of the state's most prominent clericals have spoken out against the measure
Recent Examples on the Web
The Editorial Board, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Entering his 16th season, Tomlin laughed off the mix-up as a clerical error. Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Michigan courts have repeatedly described the board’s responsibilities as administrative or clerical, while Michigan’s elected secretary of state is the chief election official. Kathleen Foody, ajc, 31 Aug. 2022 Roald Dahl, John Berger, and John le Carré were some of the writers who judged Rushdie to have been insufficiently attentive to clerical sensitivities in Tehran. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 Neveah Grooms, an 18-year old senior at Irmo High School in Columbia, has worked as a clerical assistant at her school’s front office since last year, earning $11 an hour. Leticia Miranda, NBC News, 27 Aug. 2022 American and a union representing about 550 clerical, technical and academic staff members have been hammering out a labor agreement for more than a year. Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 But depending on the level of classified records, potentially at Mar-a-Lago, Turner's description of just a clerical transaction may not be accurate. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2022 Later, Hayden’s office sent a third update, saying a clerical mishap led to an omission in its original set of answers: The office meant to say its general counsel had spoken to Griffin and Mullen and determined Griffin misunderstood Mullen. Andrew Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Aug. 2022 See More
Adjective
But Antique’s filing arrived five hours late owing to a clerical error. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 Entering his 16th season, Tomlin laughed off the mix-up as a clerical error. Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 Michigan courts have repeatedly described the board’s responsibilities as administrative or clerical, while Michigan’s elected secretary of state is the chief election official. Kathleen Foody, ajc, 31 Aug. 2022 Roald Dahl, John Berger, and John le Carré were some of the writers who judged Rushdie to have been insufficiently attentive to clerical sensitivities in Tehran. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 Neveah Grooms, an 18-year old senior at Irmo High School in Columbia, has worked as a clerical assistant at her school’s front office since last year, earning $11 an hour. Leticia Miranda, NBC News, 27 Aug. 2022 American and a union representing about 550 clerical, technical and academic staff members have been hammering out a labor agreement for more than a year. Danielle Douglas-gabriel, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 But depending on the level of classified records, potentially at Mar-a-Lago, Turner's description of just a clerical transaction may not be accurate. Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 11 Aug. 2022 Later, Hayden’s office sent a third update, saying a clerical mishap led to an omission in its original set of answers: The office meant to say its general counsel had spoken to Griffin and Mullen and determined Griffin misunderstood Mullen. Andrew Ryan, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing clerical
Kids Definition
clerical
adjective
cler·i·cal ˈkler-i-kəl
1
: relating to the clergy
The minister wore his clerical collar.
2
: relating to a clerk or office worker
the clerical staff
clerical 1 of 2
adjective
as in ministerial
of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy clerical duties such as providing spiritual counseling and leading Bible study classes Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ministerial
- pastoral
- priestly
- ecclesiastical
- sacerdotal
- ecclesiastic
- clerkly
- episcopal
- religious
- missionary
- evangelical
- diocesan
- apostolic
- papal
- monastic
- diaconal
- pontifical
- evangelic
- churchly
- divine
- patriarchal
- sacramental
- canonical
- conventual
- rabbinic
- mendicant
- rabbinical
- holy
- caliphal
- monachal
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- secular
- lay
- temporal
- nonclerical
clerical
2 of 2noun
as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church some of the state's most prominent clericals have spoken out against the measure Synonyms & Similar Words
- priest
- cleric
- preacher
- clergyman
- ecclesiastic
- bishop
- deacon
- minister
- reverend
- clerk
- pastor
- divine
- chaplain
- prelate
- dominie
- father
- clergyperson
- pope
- diocesan
- archbishop
- religious
- missionary
- priestess
- churchman
- monk
- dean
- deaconess
- monastic
- abbot
- rector
- vicar
- presbyter
- parson
- archpriest
- padre
- abbé
- curé
- friar
- confessor
- monsignor
- shepherd
- evangelist
- mendicant
- clergywoman
- missioner
- revivalist
- curate
- Holy Joe
- oblate
- high priestess
- sky pilot
- high priest
- missionizer
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- secular
- layman
- layperson
- lay reader
- lector