ordain

verb

or·​dain ȯr-ˈdān 

ordained; ordaining; ordains

transitive verb

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

b

: destine, foreordain

It is futile to try to avoid what destiny has ordained.

intransitive verb

: to issue an order

so the gods have ordained

ordainer noun

ordainment

ȯr-ˈdān-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• destine
• doom
• fate
• foredoom
• foreordain
• predestine
• predetermine
• preordain

Examples of ordain in a Sentence

She is an ordained minister.

The process was ordained by law.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are disagreements between men who have been ordained with some degree of authority, even at the highest levels of the church. —Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Aug. 2023

On February 23rd, 2018 I was ordained into the Church of the Latter-Day Dude, a fairly straightforward process through the Church’s official website. —Rory Feehan, SPIN, 9 Nov. 2023

The two were married Aug. 18 by Nan Cameron, a friend of Mr. Cassata previously ordained by the Universal Life Church, at Calamigos Ranch in Malibu, Calif., before 150 guests. —Jenny Block, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2023

But in an interview published this year by two journalists, Francis, going deeper, appeared to find little rationale for ordaining women, or giving in to calls for married priests. —Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2023

Attendees have a broad mandate to discuss the future of the church, including ordaining women as deacons and outreach to L.G.B.T.Q. people. —Ruth Graham Jamie Kelter Davis, New York Times, 24 Oct. 2023

Sutton said Hudson had served in a succession of roles in Western Maryland parishes since being ordained an Episcopal priest in 2006. —Jonathan M. Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 29 Aug. 2023

Any man could do it, ordained or not, as long as the baptism was full immersion. —Jamie Quatro, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023

In the year 391, a brilliant 36-year-old professor who was on track to become a senator of the Roman Empire was instead ordained a Catholic priest in a provincial city. —Bronwen McShea, WSJ, 6 Oct. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English ordeinen, from Anglo-French ordener, ordeiner, from Late Latin ordinare, from Latin, to put in order, appoint, from ordin-, ordo order

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids 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