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
Some in the parishes have asked the archdiocese to reconsider this decision.
—
Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Mylo Capilla, 13, was last seen on Thursday, June 26, in the parish of Ingleby Barwick, according to Cleveland Police in England.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 27 June 2025
This pilot was targeted at specific parishes within Louisiana known for their high rates of police misconduct, as the state itself is one of the highest incarcerators in the country.
—Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
While guests enjoy the festivities, hundreds of volunteers — many from the parish and surrounding community — work quietly behind the scenes to bring it all together.
—Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for parish
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Mylo Capilla, 13, was last seen on Thursday, June 26, in the parish of Ingleby Barwick, according to Cleveland Police in England.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 27 June 2025
This pilot was targeted at specific parishes within Louisiana known for their high rates of police misconduct, as the state itself is one of the highest incarcerators in the country.
—Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
While guests enjoy the festivities, hundreds of volunteers — many from the parish and surrounding community — work quietly behind the scenes to bring it all together.
—Susan Soldavin, Baltimore Sun, 14 June 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 23 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share