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

The district decided staff reduction was its path forward, trimming positions at the central office, lunchroom monitors, assistant High school principals, campus clerical positions, and teachers. —Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

Duplenticy gets up every day and chooses to put on his black clerical suit and white collar, reaffirming his devotion to his faith. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 Dec. 2025

Iran’s clerical oligarchs are shaken and still sorting out how their defenses were compromised and their intelligence apparatus penetrated. —Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025

The monastery, rebuilt at the end of the seventeenth century, sported a concrete addition, brutalism with a clerical accent. —Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 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