parish

noun

par·​ish ˈper-ish 

ˈpa-rish

1

a(1)

: the ecclesiastical unit of area committed to one pastor

(2)

: the residents of such an area

b

British : a subdivision of a county often coinciding with an original ecclesiastical parish and constituting the unit of local government

2

: a local church community composed of the members or constituents of a Protestant church

3

: a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states

Examples of parish in a Sentence

The parish will be getting a new priest soon.

The parish has grown significantly in the last three years.

Recent Examples on the Web

The hurricane also caused prolonged disruptions to essential services, with parishes in western Jamaica still without electricity. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 17 Dec. 2025

Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids There are seven Catholic dioceses in Michigan, which provide administration and support services to Catholic parishes and schools on a regional level. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 15 Dec. 2025

Catholic physicians’ networks promote it, as do parishes and dioceses. —Emma Kennedy, The Conversation, 12 Dec. 2025

Brolin plays a small but pivotal role in Wake Up Dead Man as Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, the reverend whose murder brings Blanc to his rural parish. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English parisshe, from Anglo-French paroche, parosse, from Late Latin parochia, from Late Greek paroikia, from paroikos Christian, from Greek, stranger, from para- + oikos house — more at vicinity

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing parish

• inter-parish
• parish-pump

Kids Definition

parish

noun

par·​ish ˈpar-ish 

1

a

: a section of a church district in the care of a priest or minister

b

: the persons who live in and attend the church of such a section

2

: the members of a church

3

: a division of the state of Louisiana that is similar to a county in other states

Legal Definition

parish

noun

par·​ish ˈpar-ish 

: a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states