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 jobs were broken down into around 200 management roles, 67 office or clerical roles, 67 professional, 534 skilled and 133 unskilled. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026 Palo Alto police confirmed the 49ers coach was at fault and said a clerical error led a state database to wrongly blame the other driver, a 21-year-old woman. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 28 July 2026 Brookings found that this vulnerable group is primarily located in clerical and administrative occupations, and 86 percent are women. — Peter D. Banko, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 After doing clerical work, he was assigned to the Katsura Imperial Villa in his fourth year. — Hiroshige Yazawa Japan News, Arkansas Online, 19 July 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
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Cite this Entry

“Clerical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clerical. Accessed 12 Aug. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on clerical

Nglish: Translation of clerical for Spanish Speakers

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