clerical

[ kler-i-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, appropriate for, or assigned to an office clerk or clerks:

   a clerical job.

2. doing the work of a clerk or clerks:

   a clerical assistant;

   a clerical staff.

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy or a member of the clergy:

   clerical garb.

4. advocating the power or influence of the clergy in politics, government, etc.:

   a clerical party.

noun

1. a cleric.
2. clericals, Informal. clerical garments.
3. a person or a party advocating the power or influence of the church in politics, government, etc.
4. a person who does clerical work; office worker; clerk.
5. Also called clerical error. a minor error, as in the keeping of records, the transcribing of documents, or the handling of correspondence.

clerical

/ ˈklɛrɪkəl /

adjective

1. relating to or associated with the clergy

   clerical dress

2. of or relating to office clerks or their work

   a clerical error

3. supporting or advocating clericalism

Derived Forms

• ˈclerically, adverb

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of clerical¹

1425–75 for sense “learned”; 1585–95 clerical fordef 3; late Middle English < Late Latin clēricālis, equivalent to clēric ( us ) cleric + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

The WhatsApp exchange took place a year after the serial killer was moved to clerical duties but a year before she was first arrested.

From BBC

The contrasting reactions laid bare the deep divisions in Iran, where there is widespread discontent at the clerical establishment and frustration over the economic troubles caused by sanctions.

From BBC

Certainly the Pope has now become adept at profusely apologising for clerical abuse and has often met survivors both at the Vatican and on foreign visits.

From BBC

The petition was postponed in July after a clerical error delayed Shiloh’s hearing.

From Los Angeles Times

As political scientist Nicholas Carnes points out in his 2018 book “The Cash Ceiling,” only 2% of congressional lawmakers worked in manual labor, the service industry or clerical jobs before getting involved in politics.

From Salon

Related Words

• ecclesiastical
• ministerial
• monastic
• pastoral
• rabbinical