clerical

[kler-i-kuh l] /ˈklɛr ɪ kəl/
adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, appropriate for, or assigned to an office clerk or clerks:
a clerical job.
2.
doing the work of a clerk or clerks:
a clerical assistant; a clerical staff.
3.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the clergy or a member of the clergy:
clerical garb.
4.
advocating the power or influence of the clergy in politics, government, etc.:
a clerical party.
noun
5.
a cleric.
6.
clericals, Informal. clerical garments.
7.
a person or a party advocating the power or influence of the church in politics, government, etc.
8.
a person who does clerical work; office worker; clerk.
9.
Also called clerical error. a minor error, as in the keeping of records, the transcribing of documents, or the handling of correspondence.
Origin
1425-75 for sense “learned”; 1585-95 for def 3; late Middle English < Late Latin clēricālis, equivalent to clēric(us) cleric + -ālis -al1
Related forms
clericality, noun
clerically, adverb
interclerical, adjective
nonclerical, adjective, noun
nonclerically, adverb
preclerical, adjective
proclerical, adjective
pseudoclerical, adjective
pseudoclerically, adverb
quasi-clerical, adjective
quasi-clerically, adverb
semiclerical, adjective
semiclerically, adverb
unclerical, adjective
unclerically, adverb
Examples from the web for clerical
  • We accept applications, year-round, from students for a variety of clerical support positions.
  • This clerical form uses two fewer strokes, and was thus adopted as a simplified form.
  • clerical training was informal and admission to universities was rare.
  • clerical workers are perhaps the largest occupational group in the united states.
  • Traditionally clerical positions have been held almost exclusively by women.
British Dictionary definitions for clerical

clerical

/ˈklɛrɪkəl/
adjective
1.
relating to or associated with the clergy: clerical dress
2.
of or relating to office clerks or their work: a clerical error
3.
supporting or advocating clericalism
Derived Forms
clerically, adverb
Word Origin and History for clerical
adj.

1590s, "pertaining to the clergy," from cleric + -al (1), or from French clérical, from Old French clerigal "learned," from Latin clericalis, from clericus (see cleric). Meaning "pertaining to clerks" is from 1798.