clerical

1 of 2

adjective

cler·​i·​cal ˈkler-i-kəl How to pronounce clerical (audio)
ˈkle-ri-
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
2
: of or relating to a clerk
clerically adverb

clerical

2 of 2

noun

1
: a member of the clergy
2
3
: clerk
4
clericals plural : clerical garments

Examples of clerical in a Sentence

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
Adjective
Yes, but: Gov. Tina Kotek recently called for an independent audit of the DMV and suspended its automatic voter registration process after the state uncovered over 1,250 non-citizens were mistakenly registered to vote due to an internal clerical error last month. Meira Gebel, Axios, 22 Oct. 2024 Former election officials say that even more often, allegations of fraud turn out to result from a clerical error or a misunderstanding. Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024 Instead, there appears to have been low turnout, motivated by a mix of apathy and opposition to Iran’s clerical rulers. Susannah George, Washington Post, 29 June 2024 The union includes respiratory therapists, phlebotomists, patient care technicians, inpatient unit clerks and specialists in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, also known as ECMO, along with clerical staff in clinics and ambulatory care settings. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for clerical 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clerical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clerical was in 1592

Dictionary Entries Near clerical

Cite this Entry

“Clerical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clerical. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

clerical

adjective
cler·​i·​cal
ˈkler-i-kəl
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
2
: of or relating to a clerk or office worker
clerically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on clerical

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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