clerical

1 of 2

adjective

cler·​i·​cal ˈkler-i-kəl 

ˈkle-ri-

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy

2

: of or relating to a clerk

clerically

ˈkler-i-k(ə-)lē 

ˈkle-ri-

adverb

clerical

2 of 2

noun

1

: a member of the clergy

2

: clericalist

3

: clerk

4

clericals plural : clerical garments

Synonyms of clerical

Adjective

• ministerial
• pastoral

Noun

• priest
• preacher
• cleric

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

That's 20- effectively a clerical error. —CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025

Iran’s Javan Online, a mouthpiece of the country’s clerical army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has depicted the agreement as nothing short of an Armenian capitulation to Azerbaijan’s demands. —Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025

Santos had worked for Eastern Florida State College as a clerical accounting employee between July 2019 and January 2023, then was rehired in February 2025, according to the filing. —Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2025

This talent-on-demand network spans a wide array of roles, from proposal development to technical jobs, project and clerical management. —Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clerical

• clerical collar

Rhymes for clerical

• spherical
• anticlerical
• hemispherical
• chimerical
• hysterical
• numerical

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