clerical

Everyday

1. To do with office work, such as typing, filing and keeping records (a clerical job, a clerical error). tree →
2. (church) To do with the clergy — priests, vicars, ministers — and their work (a clerical collar). tree →

In the lessons

In everyday adult life, a «clerical worker» does office tasks, and a «clerical error» is a small mistake in writing or typing records, such as a wrong date. In church life, priests and ministers may wear a white «clerical collar» (dog collar). It tells the reader about offices or about clergy.

Examples

• Mum does clerical work at the hospital. tree →
• The wrong date was just a clerical error. tree →
• The vicar wore a clerical collar. tree →
• A clerical mistake sent the parcel to the wrong house. tree →
• The school office needs a new clerical assistant. tree →
• Clerical robes are worn by priests during services. tree →
• The principal person in the procession was a clerical-looking gentleman. tree →

Note

Adjective only. It comes from «cleric» (a member of the clergy) — in the past, priests were among the few people who could write, so «clerk» and «clerical» came to mean office work too. «Clerical error» is a fixed phrase meaning a small mistake in paperwork.