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
As a result, the consecration of bishops without papal consent is considered a grave threat to church unity and a cause of schism, since bishops can ordain new priests.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
In 2011, Isaacs became the first openly gay rabbi ordained by the Conservative seminary.
—Luis Andres Henao, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
He was ordained in the 1980s as a minister in the Church of God in Christ, dedicating himself to preaching and evangelism.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
In the 1980s, he was ordained as a Pentecostal minister, and went on to lead parallel careers in acting and preaching.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
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Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
In 2011, Isaacs became the first openly gay rabbi ordained by the Conservative seminary.
—Luis Andres Henao, Sun Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
He was ordained in the 1980s as a minister in the Church of God in Christ, dedicating himself to preaching and evangelism.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon , Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
In the 1980s, he was ordained as a Pentecostal minister, and went on to lead parallel careers in acting and preaching.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordain. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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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