adj

clerical

KLEH-rih-kuhl

adj

Relating to routine office work, such as filing, typing, or record-keeping.

"The mistake was just a clerical error in the paperwork."

"She was hired for a clerical position in the accounts department."

Relating to the clergy.

"The bishop wore his clerical collar to the meeting."

How to Use Clerical

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsually means "office/paperwork-related" (a clerical error), but can also mean "related to the clergy."

Common pairings

clerical error clerical work clerical staff

clericals plural

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The mistake was just a _____ error in the paperwork.

From Late Latin clericalis, from clericus — the same root as both "clerk" and "cleric," which explains the word's two very different modern meanings.

black-collar cleric pastoral

lay secular

lay impose holy secular pastoral layer religious copulation

musical comical radical medical logical lyrical typical cynical optical magical ethical topical

black-collar cleric pastoral lay secular impose holy layer religious copulation