parish

noun

par·​ish ˈper-ish How to pronounce parish (audio)
ˈpa-rish
Synonyms of parishnext
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
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.
Organization and governance As with most other Anglican churches, the ACK is governed through a hierarchical system of provinces, dioceses, and parishes. — Stephanie Triplettall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 In surveillance video released by the Diocese of Brooklyn, the masked man violently hits the statue outside the church in what Catholic officials say is the latest in a string of attacks targeting the parish. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Pickert served in several parishes in the archdiocese, the announcement said. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 Organizations like El Centro de Servicios Sociales in Lorain, Ohio, for example, worked closely with Sacred Heart Chapel, a Catholic parish, when more than 200 Puerto Rican families arrived in the city after Hurricane María in September 2017. — Gina Perez, The Conversation, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for parish

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)

Time Traveler
The first known use of parish was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing parish

Browse Nearby Words

Paris green
parish
parishen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Parish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parish. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

parish

noun
par·​ish ˈpar-ish How to pronounce parish (audio)
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 How to pronounce parish (audio)
: a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states

More from Merriam-Webster on parish

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for parish

Nglish: Translation of parish for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parish

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