parish

American  

[par-ish] / ˈpær ɪʃ /

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.

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idioms

1. on the parish,

   1. receiving charity from local authorities.

   2. Informal. meagerly or inadequately supplied.

parish British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• interparish adjective
• transparish adjective

Etymology

Origin of parish

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

Explanation

A parish is a local church community that has one main church and one pastor. Parish members do more than just attend church. They organize community activities, social events, and — very important — coffee and donuts on Sunday mornings. A parish is technically a piece of land. It’s a section of a diocese that has the right number of churchgoers to have its own church. But when you refer to a parish, you’re usually talking about more than the space itself. You're describing the people who attend the church, as well as the church property. So if someone says, "Our parish is thriving," it means there's a full congregation and enough funds to maintain the church in good condition.

Example Sentences

Along with a thousand or so other Catholics, Dowling had walked more than a mile from a nearby parish church to the Broadview facility.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

QLAYAA, Lebanon — The bells rang, their peals obscuring the buzz of the Israeli drone overhead as the casket of Father Pierre al-Rahi arrived at the parish he had served.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

Jayes is also on the parish council "for my sins", he says with a wry smile.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Kaaleeraq Ringsted, the catechist of the tiny parish, lives alone at 74.

From Barron's • Feb. 23, 2026

Donald’s wife, Daisy, was from the parish of Saint Elizabeth.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• church