# clerical
## English
### Etymology

From Late Latin clēricālis (“clerical”), from clēricus (“clergyman, priest”).

### Pronunciation

* (UK) IPA: /ˈklɛɹɪkəl/
* Audio (US):(file)

### Adjective

clerical (not comparable)
* Of or relating to clerks or their work.
** 1899 February, Joseph Conrad, “The Heart of Darkness”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume CLXV, number M, New York, N.Y.: The Leonard Scott Publishing Company, […], →OCLC, part I:‘The groans of this sick person,’ he said, ‘distract my attention. And without that it is extremely difficult to guard against clerical errors in this climate.’
* Of or relating to the clergy.
    Synonym: cleric

#### Derived terms

* clerical collar
* clerical error
* clericalism
* clericalist
* clericality
* clericalization
* clericalize
* clerically
* clerical marriage
* clerical script
* interclerical
* nonclerical
* preclerical
* pseudoclerical
* semiclerical
* unclerical

#### Related terms

* clergy
* clergyman
* cleric
* clerk

#### Translations
### Noun

clerical (plural clericals)
* (now uncommon) A member of the clergy. [from 19th c.]
* (in the plural, informal) Clerical garments. [from 19th c.]

### Further reading

* “clerical”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
* “clerical”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

## Catalan
### Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin clēricālis (“clerical”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: (Central, Balearic) [klə.ɾiˈkal]
* IPA: (Valencia) [kle.ɾiˈkal]
* Rhymes: -al

### Adjective

clerical m or f (masculine and feminine plural clericals)
* clerical (of or relating to the clergy)

#### Derived terms

* clericalisme

### Further reading

* “clerical” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
* “clerical”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025
* “clerical” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
* “clerical” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

## Galician
### Etymology

From Late Latin clēricālis (“clerical”).

### Adjective

clerical m or f (plural clericais)
* clerical (of or relating to the clergy)

#### Derived terms

* clericalismo

#### Related terms

* clero

### Further reading

* “clerical”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2025

## Portuguese
### Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin clēricālis (“clerical”), from clēricus (“clergyman, priest”).

### Pronunciation

* (Brazil) IPA: /kle.ɾiˈkaw/ [kle.ɾiˈkaʊ̯]
* (Portugal) IPA: /klɛ.ɾiˈkal/ [klɛ.ɾiˈkaɫ]
* (Portugal) IPA: /klɛ.ɾiˈkal/ [klɛ.ɾiˈkaɫ]
** (Southern Portugal) IPA: /klɛ.ɾiˈka.li/
* Rhymes: -al, -aw
* Hyphenation: re‧ci‧tal

### Adjective

clerical m or f (plural clericais)
* clerical (of or relating to the clergy)

#### Derived terms

* anticlerical
* clericalismo

#### Related terms

* clero

### Further reading

* “clerical”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2025

## Romanian
### Etymology

Borrowed from French clérical, from Latin clericalis. By surface analysis, cleric +‎ -al.

### Adjective

clerical m or n (feminine singular clericală, masculine plural clericali, feminine and neuter plural clericale)
* clerical

#### Declension
## Spanish
### Etymology

From Latin clēricālis.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /kleɾiˈkal/ [kle.ɾiˈkal]
* Rhymes: -al
* Syllabification: cle‧ri‧cal

### Adjective

clerical m or f (masculine and feminine plural clericales)
* (relational) clergy; clerical (of or relating to the clergy)

#### Derived terms

* anticlerical
* clericalismo

#### Related terms

* clérigo

### Further reading

* “clerical”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10