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 of ordain

• destine
• doom

Examples of ordain in a Sentence

She is an ordained minister.

The process was ordained by law.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jackson ultimately earned his divinity degree after being ordained a minister in 1968. —Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026

Jackson was with King before his assassination in April 1968, and was ordained as a Reverend in June that same year. —Olivia-Anne Cleary, Time, 17 Feb. 2026

Jackson is ordained as a Baptist minister. —Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

He was ordained a Baptist a minister in 1968. —Patricio Chile, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for ordain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

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