1
a(1)
: the ecclesiastical unit of area committed to one pastor
(2)
: the residents of such an area
b
British
: a subdivision of a county often coinciding with an original ecclesiastical parish and constituting the unit of local government
2
: a local church community composed of the members or constituents of a Protestant church
3
: a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states
Examples of parish in a Sentence
The parish will be getting a new priest soon.
The parish has grown significantly in the last three years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Many of their parents were also friends within the parish.
—
Allison Kiehl, The Enquirer, 2 Aug. 2024
On Monday, Calcasieu Parish police were notified of a body in the water at a rest stop in the parish, per the department’s statement.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 12 July 2024
They will subsequently be worn for important occasions on the Christian calendar, and each parish of Paris will be entrusted with a chasuble.
—Alex Wynne, WWD, 20 June 2024
Dioceses in cities such as Baltimore, Buffalo and Chicago, have consolidated and closed parishes recently, and a number of Milwaukee-area parishes have announced mergers as well.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for parish 
Allison Kiehl, The Enquirer, 2 Aug. 2024
On Monday, Calcasieu Parish police were notified of a body in the water at a rest stop in the parish, per the department’s statement.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 12 July 2024
They will subsequently be worn for important occasions on the Christian calendar, and each parish of Paris will be entrusted with a chasuble.
—Alex Wynne, WWD, 20 June 2024
Dioceses in cities such as Baltimore, Buffalo and Chicago, have consolidated and closed parishes recently, and a number of Milwaukee-area parishes have announced mergers as well.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 17 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for parish
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near parish
Cite this Entry
“Parish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parish. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
parish
noun
par·ish
ˈpar-ish 
1
a
: a section of a church district in the care of a priest or minister
b
: the persons who live in and attend the church of such a section
2
: the members of a church
3
: a division of the state of Louisiana that is similar to a county in other states
Legal Definition
parish
noun
par·ish
ˈpar-ish
: a civil division of the state of Louisiana corresponding to a county in other states
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