ordained; ordaining; ordains
1
: to invest (see invest entry 2 sense 1) officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority
was ordained as a priest
2
a
: to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law : enact
we the people … do ordain and establish this Constitution—
U.S. Constitution
U.S. Constitution
b
: destine, foreordain
It is futile to try to avoid what destiny has ordained.
: to issue an order
so the gods have ordained
ordainer
noun
Examples of ordain in a Sentence
She is an ordained minister.
The process was ordained by law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Qualified people who could be priests except for archaic laws that no longer serve us continue to wait to be invited into the ranks of those who have been ordained.
—Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
The move also contrasts with Pope Francis, who said no to moving into the papal apartments when he was ordained in 2013, choosing instead a Vatican guesthouse.
—Greg Wehner , Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Thirty-two deacons from around the world were being ordained that day.
—Kristine Tran, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Johnson was ordained in 1975 and has been retired since 2009, according to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
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Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025
The move also contrasts with Pope Francis, who said no to moving into the papal apartments when he was ordained in 2013, choosing instead a Vatican guesthouse.
—Greg Wehner , Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Thirty-two deacons from around the world were being ordained that day.
—Kristine Tran, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Johnson was ordained in 1975 and has been retired since 2009, according to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordain. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ordain
verb
or·dain
ȯr-ˈdān 
1
: to make a person a Christian minister or priest by a special ceremony
2
a
: decree entry 2
it was ordained by law
b
: destine sense 1
we seem ordained to fail
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