English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj Uncommon

ordained

aw-DAYND

Ordained (adj) means Officially established or decreed by an authority. Example: “The rules of the tournament were ordained long before any of the current players joined.”

adj
1
Officially established or decreed by an authority.
"The rules of the tournament were ordained long before any of the current players joined."
2
Formally admitted into the ministry of a church, authorized to perform religious duties.
"She was ordained as a priest after years of theological study."
"His father was an ordained minister for over forty years."

How to Use Ordained

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOfficially set in place by authority — most commonly used for someone formally made a priest, minister, or rabbi.

Common pairings
ordained minister ordained priest divinely ordained
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “ordained” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The rules of the tournament were _____ long before any of the current players joined.

Rhymes for ordained

See all rhymes for ordained →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “ordained” mean?

The word “ordained” means officially established or decreed by an authority. In plain terms, officially set in place by authority — most commonly used for someone formally made a priest, minister, or rabbi.

How do you pronounce “ordained”?

“Ordained” is pronounced aw-DAYND (/ɔɹˈdeɪnd/ in IPA).

How do you use “ordained” in a sentence?

Here is “ordained” used in a sentence: “The rules of the tournament were ordained long before any of the current players joined.”

What part of speech is “ordained”?

“Ordained” is an adjective.

Is “ordained” a common word?

“Ordained” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “ordained” have?

“Ordained” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: officially established or decreed by an authority.

Featured In

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial