ordination

noun

or·​di·​na·​tion ˌȯr-də-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce ordination (audio)
: the act or an instance of ordaining : the state of being ordained

Examples of ordination in a Sentence

He is a candidate for ordination. After his ordination, he will be assigned to a local parish.
Recent Examples on the Web Vatican summit tackles women’s ordination with a nod from Pope Francis Vatican synods — held in the past with only bishops and cardinals as voting members — tend to convene two to three times per decade. Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2023 Many activists hoped that female ordination – which has been held as inadmissible for debate by the Catholic Church for over a millennium – would be discussed at the Synod on Synodality underway at the Vatican. Timothy H.j. Nerozzi Fox News, Fox News, 26 Oct. 2023 There remain deep divisions even among women over the ordination of women as deacons. Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023 In a Catholic diocese, a cathedral serves as the bishop's home church and the site of important religious events for the diocese such as the ordination of new priests and the annual Chrism Mass, where the oils used in sacraments throughout the diocese are blessed, traditionally on Holy Thursday. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Proponents of women’s ordination received slightly more encouragement, as the Vatican meeting called for further research into the possibility of women deacons. Francis X. Rocca, WSJ, 28 Oct. 2023 Contested issues—contraception, in-vitro fertilization, the ordination of women and married men, homosexuality—were considered closed to further discussion. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2023 Catholic women have been clamoring for more equal footing and greater say in the workings of the church for years, and while consensus is building for different forms of advancement, there remains deep opposition to the ordination of women as deacons, let alone priests. Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2023 These groups represent issues such as ending clergy abuse, the women's ordination conference and more. Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ordination.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ordination was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ordination

Cite this Entry

“Ordination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordination. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ordination

noun
or·​di·​na·​tion ˌȯrd-ᵊn-ˈā-shən How to pronounce ordination (audio)
: the act of ordaining : the state of being ordained
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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