noun
Common
parish
PA-rihsh
Parish (noun) means a local church community and the district it serves. Example: “The whole parish gathered in the hall for tea after the Sunday service.”
noun
1
A local church community and the district it serves.
"The whole parish gathered in the hall for tea after the Sunday service."
"Members of the parish raised money to repair the church roof."
"The new priest was welcomed warmly by the parish."
2
An administrative subdivision, especially in the UK or Louisiana, comparable to a county elsewhere.
"Our village lies in a rural parish with about two hundred homes."
"The parish council meets on the first Tuesday of each month."
"Louisiana is divided into parishes rather than counties."
How to use parish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA church community and its local area, or (in the UK and Louisiana) a small local government district.
UK vs US
In Louisiana, "parish" is the equivalent of what most US states call a "county."
Common pairings
local parish
parish council
parish church
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Word forms
- Plural
- parishes
- Third person singular
- parishes
- Past tense
- parished
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The whole _____ gathered in the hall for tea after the Sunday service.
Etymology
From Old French paroisse, from Late Latin parochia, ultimately from Greek paroikia, "a dwelling in a foreign land."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for parish
See all rhymes for parish →Frequently asked questions
What does “parish” mean?
The word “parish” means a local church community and the district it serves. In plain terms, a church community and its local area, or (in the UK and Louisiana) a small local government district.
How do you pronounce “parish”?
“Parish” is pronounced PA-rihsh (/ˈpæɹɪʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “parish” in a sentence?
Here is “parish” used in a sentence: “The new priest was welcomed warmly by the parish.”
What part of speech is “parish”?
“Parish” is a noun.
Where does the word “parish” come from?
The word “parish” comes from Late Latin. From Old French paroisse, from Late Latin parochia, ultimately from Greek paroikia, "a dwelling in a foreign land.".
Is “parish” a common word?
“Parish” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “parish” have?
“Parish” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a local church community and the district it serves.
What is the difference between a "parish" and a "diocese"?
A parish is a single local church community and the district it serves, usually led by a priest or vicar. A diocese is much larger and contains many parishes under the authority of a bishop.
Why are counties called "parishes" in Louisiana?
In Louisiana, "parish" is the term for the administrative district that most other US states call a county. The name reflects the area's historical church divisions, which later became civil districts.
What is the difference between a "parish" and a "congregation"?
A congregation is the group of people who gather to worship, while a parish is both that community and the geographical district it covers. Every parish has a congregation, but the parish also refers to the surrounding area and its members.
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