ordained; ordaining; ordains
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
U.S. Constitution
b
: destine, foreordain
It is futile to try to avoid what destiny has ordained.
: to issue an order
so the gods have ordained
ordainer
noun
Examples of ordain in a Sentence
She is an ordained minister.
The process was ordained by law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Burke’s path to ownership wasn’t ordained by family tradition or a traditionally artistic calling.
—Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
He was ordained in 1904 by Archbishop Sebastian Messmer at Milwaukee's St. Francis of Assisi Church.
—Maya Bell, jsonline.com, 18 July 2025
Many see the curriculum as part of a growing Christian nationalist movement, which holds the belief that the United States’ founding was ordained by God and that its laws and institutions should favor Christians.
—Jaden Edison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Casey was ordained a priest more than 30 years ago in the Archdiocese of Chicago by then-Archbishop Joseph Bernadin, who also was the former archbishop of Cincinnati.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
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Sughnen Yongo, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025
He was ordained in 1904 by Archbishop Sebastian Messmer at Milwaukee's St. Francis of Assisi Church.
—Maya Bell, jsonline.com, 18 July 2025
Many see the curriculum as part of a growing Christian nationalist movement, which holds the belief that the United States’ founding was ordained by God and that its laws and institutions should favor Christians.
—Jaden Edison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Casey was ordained a priest more than 30 years ago in the Archdiocese of Chicago by then-Archbishop Joseph Bernadin, who also was the former archbishop of Cincinnati.
—Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordain. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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