clerical

adjective

cler·i·cal | \ ˈkler-i-kəl

, ˈkle-ri-\

Definition of clerical

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy

2 : of or relating to a clerk

clerical

noun

Definition of clerical (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a member of the clergy

2 : clericalist

3 : clerk

4 clericals plural : clerical garments

Other Words from clerical Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about clerical

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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

Or, put another way, the contempo-clerical look is as regimented as any other religious habit. — Troy Patterson, The New Yorker, "The Normcore Opulence of Preachers Wearing Four-Figure Sneakers," 14 June 2019 In the developed world, McKinsey estimates that men will tend to lose machine-operating jobs and women will lose clerical and service roles. — The Economist, "For the future, look to the past," 13 June 2019 Mexico's former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, the PRI, long supported Luz del Mundo as a counterweight to the Roman Catholic Church, whose followers led an armed uprising against anti-clerical laws in the 1920s. — Fox News, "Mexican church leader still its 'apostle' after rape arrest," 6 June 2019 Mexico's former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, the PRI, long supported Luz del Mundo as a counterweight to the Roman Catholic Church, whose followers led an armed uprising against anti-clerical laws in the 1920s. — Mark Stevenson And Stefanie Dazio, Houston Chronicle, "Mexican church leader still its 'apostle' after rape arrest," 5 June 2019 Instead of being given a chance to heal and return to the academy when ready, Ludlam’s suit says she was forced to choose between getting demoted to a clerical job or getting terminated. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "San Diego paying out $240,000 to female police recruit," 3 June 2019 Attorney General Josh Hawley is working with the cooperation of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, which requested the probe, to investigate clerical records spanning decades. — Tara Isabella Burton, Vox, "Even more states have launched investigations into clerical abuse since the Pennsylvania report," 24 Oct. 2018 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in an address in Los Angeles on Sunday, castigated Iran’s clerical leaders and called on other countries to join the U.S. campaign of pressure and sanctions against the Islamic Republic. — Nancy A. Youssef, WSJ, "Trump and Iran Leader Swap Taunts as Sanctions Loom," 23 July 2018 Last year, the Iranians also named the street where the Saudi Arabian Embassy sits after Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, a clerical leader from the Shiite Muslim minority who was executed in the kingdom. — Neil Macfarquhar, New York Times, "U.S. and Russia Revive Cold-War Game of Provocative Street Names," 12 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clerical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.