clerical

1 of 2

adjective

cler·​i·​cal ˈkler-i-kəl How to pronounce clerical (audio)
ˈkle-ri-
Synonyms of clericalnext
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
2
: of or relating to a clerk
clerically
ˈkler-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce clerical (audio)
ˈkle-ri-
adverb

clerical

2 of 2

noun

1
: a member of the clergy
2
: clericalist
3
: clerk
4
clericals plural : clerical garments

Synonyms of clerical

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Adjective

Noun

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Examples of clerical in a Sentence

Adjective She spent the summer doing clerical work for a lawyer. a member of our clerical staff The mistake was due to a clerical error. Noun some of the state's most prominent clericals have spoken out against the measure
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The best family offices do not treat trust administration as clerical work. — Michael Gold Cfp, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Critics of Iran's clerical rulers hoped initially that Iran's government would collapse amid a bombing campaign that killed Iran's most senior military and religious officials, including its supreme leader. — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Lynch’s massive draft whiffs feel like harmless clerical rounding errors next to his good work in handling all the off-the-field stuff that lands on his desk. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 The Samish also never got the valuable fishing rights that most tribes in Washington state have, due to a clerical error at the Bureau of Indian Affairs. — John Ryan, NPR, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clerical

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clerical was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing clerical

Rhymes for clerical

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Browse Nearby Words

cleric
clerical
clerical collar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clerical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clerical. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

clerical

adjective
cler·​i·​cal
ˈkler-i-kəl
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the clergy
2
: of or relating to a clerk or office worker
clerically
-i-k(ə-)lē
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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