ordination

noun

or·​di·​na·​tion ˌȯr-də-ˈnā-shən 

: the act or an instance of ordaining : the state of being ordained

Examples of ordination in a Sentence

He is a candidate for ordination.

After his ordination, he will be assigned to a local parish.

Recent Examples on the Web

Contested issues—contraception, in-vitro fertilization, the ordination of women and married men, homosexuality—were considered closed to further discussion. —Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2023

Catholic women have been clamoring for more equal footing and greater say in the workings of the church for years, and while consensus is building for different forms of advancement, there remains deep opposition to the ordination of women as deacons, let alone priests. —Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023

These groups represent issues such as ending clergy abuse, the women's ordination conference and more. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2023

The issues under discussion will include priestly celibacy, married priests, the blessing of gay couples, the extension of sacraments to the divorced and the ordination of female deacons. —Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2023

Other groups pressing for women’s ordination to the priesthood are also in Rome, even though the pope has taken the subject of women priests off the table. —Nicole Winfield and Trisha Thomas, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Oct. 2023

Most of the church’s seven synodal regions — North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania — have called for the faith to consider the ordination of female deacons. —Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2023

Later, more radical activists took further steps, like calling for women’s ordination. —The Salt Lake Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023

The ordination liturgy was also attended by Bishop Steven Raica, head of the Diocese of Birmingham, and his predecessor, retired Bishop Robert Baker. —Greg Garrison | , al, 27 June 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ordination

noun

or·​di·​na·​tion ˌȯrd-ᵊn-ˈā-shən 

: the act of ordaining : the state of being ordained