Of or pertaining to the clergy; suitable for the clergy. Burke. [1913 Webster]
Of or relating to a clerk or copyist, or to writing. E. Everett. [1913 Webster]
characteristic of the work performed by a clerk, secretary, or copyist, or suitable to be performed by a clerk. [PJC]

A clerical error, an error made in copying or writing.

top

OXFORD DICTIONARY

clerical, adj.
1 of the clergy or clergymen.
2 of or done by a clerk or clerks.

Idiom

clerical collar a stiff upright white collar fastening at the back, as worn by the clergy in some Churches. clerical error an error made in copying or writing out.

Derivative

clericalism n. clericalist n. clerically adv.

Etymology

eccl.L clericalis (as CLERIC)

top

THESAURUS

clerical

abbatial, abbatical, accounting, apostolic, archiepiscopal, bookkeeping, canonical, capitular, capitulary, churchly, churchman, cleric, clerk, divine, ecclesiastic, ecclesiastical, episcopal, episcopalian, evangelistic, hieratic, minister, ministerial, monastic, office, papal, parson, pastoral, pontifical, preacher, prelatial, prelatic, priest-ridden, priestish, priestly, professional, rabbinic, reverend, sacerdotal, secretarial, stenographic, ultramontane

top

ROGET THESAURUS

clerical

Churchdom

N church, churchdom, ministry, apostleship, priesthood, prelacy, hierarch, church government, christendom, pale of the church, clericalism, sacerdotalism, episcopalianism, ultramontanism, theocracy, ecclesiology, ecclesiologist, priestcraft, odium theologicum, monachism, monachy, monasticism, monkhood, pontificate, primacy, archbishopric, archiepiscopacy, prelacy, bishopric, bishopdom, episcopate, episcopacy, see, diocese, deanery, stall, canonry, canonicate, prebend, prebendaryship, benefice, incumbency, glebe, advowson, living, cure, rectorship, vicariate, vicarship, deaconry, deaconship, curacy, chaplain, chaplaincy, chaplainship, cardinalate, cardinalship, abbacy, presbytery, holy orders, ordination, institution, consecration, induction, reading in, preferment, translation, presentation, popedom, the Vatican, the apostolic see, religious sects, council, conclave, convocation, synod, consistory, chapter, vestry, sanhedrim, conge d'elire, ecclesiastical courts, consistorial court, court of Arches, ecclesiastical, ecclesiological, clerical, sacerdotal, priestly, prelatical, pastoral, ministerial, capitular, theocratic, hierarchical, archiepiscopal, episcopal, episcopalian, canonical, monastic, monachal, monkish, abbatial, abbatical, Anglican, pontifical, papal, apostolic, Roman, Popish, ultramontane, priest-ridden.

For further exploring for "clerical" in Webster Dictionary Online