clerical
KLER-ih-kul
/ˈklɛrɪkəl/
Relating to the clergy or religious ministers; also relating to routine office or administrative work.
Has two distinct senses: one religious (pertaining to ordained ministers) and one secular (pertaining to office documentation and record-keeping).
The story behind the word. In ancient Greek, 'kleros' meant a lot or portion cast in a decision. Early Christians used the term because priests were seen as having the Lord as their special 'portion' or heritage. During the Middle Ages, priests were almost the only literate members of society, so civil rulers relied on them to handle writing and record-keeping, creating the modern secular meaning of 'clerical' office work.
Word relationships
- ministerial: Ministerial emphasizes pastoral duties, whereas clerical often highlights official administrative roles within the clergy.
- administrative: Administrative applies strictly to workplace organization without any religious connotation.
- lay: Lay refers to non-ordained members of a congregation or secular individuals.
Commonly confused with
- ecclesiastical: Clerical relates primarily to ministers/clergy members, while ecclesiastical refers broadly to the church institution as a whole.
Word family
- cleric (noun): A member of the clergy.
- clergy (noun): The body of all people ordained for religious duties.
- clerk (noun): An administrative worker or record-keeper.
Collocations
- clerical error
- clerical duties
- clerical vestments
- clerical staff
Example sentences
- "The bishop arrived at the cathedral dressed in full clerical attire for the ordination ceremony." Ecclesiastical Context
- "The court clerk managed all clerical duties, including filing motions and archiving judicial transcripts." Administrative Context
Memory hook
CLERKs in the CLERGY handle CLERICAL work. Priests and papers: both are clerical.
When not to use
Do not use to describe executive decision-making when referring to administrative work.
Fun facts
- The word 'clerk' and 'clerical' come from the exact same root because medieval priests were the original paperwork administrators.
Related words
Explore more words
clergy, laicization, laity, anticlerical, administrative, ceremonial
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