ordain
C2Formal
Definition
Meaning
To make someone a priest, minister, or rabbi in a religious ceremony, conferring official authority.
To officially order, establish, or decree something, often with an implication of higher authority or destiny.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Predominantly used in religious/legal contexts. The secular usage often implies a sense of inevitability, fate, or a higher power.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant syntactic differences. Both use the verb with 'as' (ordained as a priest).
Connotations
In both, the primary connotation is religious. In secular formal contexts, it may sound slightly archaic or elevated.
Frequency
Slightly more common in the US due to higher reported frequency of religious discourse in media.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SVO] The church ordained her.[SV that clause] The law ordains that all citizens must vote.[SVO as complement] They ordained him as a priest.[SVO to-inf.] Fate ordained him to lead.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “an ordained minister”
- “divinely ordained”
- “as fate ordained”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'The board ordained a new policy on remote work.'
Academic
Found in history, law, or theology: 'The council ordained a new set of doctrinal principles.'
Everyday
Very rare. Used mainly by those discussing religion.
Technical
Primarily in religious studies, canon law, and some formal legal documents.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The Archbishop will ordain the new deacons in Canterbury Cathedral.
- The old laws ordained a tax on every hearth.
American English
- She was ordained as a Presbyterian minister last Sunday.
- The founding charter ordains that meetings be held quarterly.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable (no standard adverbial form).
American English
- Not applicable (no standard adverbial form).
adjective
British English
- The newly ordained vicar gave his first sermon.
- He is an ordained minister of the church.
American English
- She is an ordained elder in her congregation.
- The ordained clergy member performed the ceremony.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He was ordained a priest last year.
- The ceremony to ordain new ministers was beautiful.
- The church recently decided to ordain women as bishops.
- The constitution ordains the separation of powers.
- Fate seemed to have ordained their unlikely meeting.
- The newly ordained legislation will have far-reaching consequences.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ORDer + gAIN = To ORDAIN is to gain a formal religious order or position.
Conceptual Metaphor
ESTABLISHING LAW IS DECREEING (legal), CONFERMENT OF POWER IS A SACRED ACT (religious).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ordinal' (порядковый).
- Do not translate as 'organize' (организовывать). The core is 'officially appoint/confer authority'.
- The Russian 'рукоположить' is a close match for the religious sense.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for 'order' in casual requests (e.g., 'I ordained a pizza').
- Confusing 'ordain' (verb) with 'ordinance' (noun).
- Misspelling as 'ordian' or 'ordane'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'ordain' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is very formal and often implies a legal or constitutional decree (e.g., 'The treaty ordains peaceful relations').
The related nouns are 'ordination' (the act of ordaining) and 'ordinance' (an authoritative order or decree).
Yes, very frequently, especially in the religious sense (e.g., 'She was ordained in 2020').
'Ordain' specifically confers a sacred or formal legal authority, often with ceremonial aspects. 'Appoint' is broader and secular, for any official assignment to a position.