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
To expand its reach, the nonprofit partners with local parishes, Seattle University student-athletes and other supporters.
—
Christine Clarridge, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
The parish is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area and about 60 miles northwest of New Orleans.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
The parish was founded by the Diocese of San Diego in July 1974.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
John Graunt, considered the first modern demographer, used London parish records to estimate population trends with crude statistical methods in the 1600s.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parish
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Christine Clarridge, Axios, 6 Mar. 2025
The parish is part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan area and about 60 miles northwest of New Orleans.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 4 Mar. 2025
The parish was founded by the Diocese of San Diego in July 1974.
—Elizabeth Marie Himchak, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
John Graunt, considered the first modern demographer, used London parish records to estimate population trends with crude statistical methods in the 1600s.
—Dylan Scott, Vox, 5 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for parish
Cite this Entry
“Parish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parish. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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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