parish

noun

par·​ish ˈper-ish 

ˈpa-rish

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

Police on Friday captured one of the New Orleans parish inmates who escaped six weeks ago in a jailbreak Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry called the worst in recent state history. —CBS News, 27 June 2025

The publication reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered Catholic parish properties in Montclair and Highland on Friday, June 20. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025

Matter of fact, at least 43 such lawsuits have been filed by Louisiana parishes in partnership with prominent trial lawyers to sue oil and gas companies over questionable claims that their operations have caused coastal erosion issues south of the Mississippi River. —David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Over the next three days, the pilgrims will travel on foot and by van to various Orange County parishes, culminating with a visit to the Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove. —Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English parisshe, from Anglo-French paroche, parosse, from Late Latin parochia, from Late Greek paroikia, from paroikos Christian, from Greek, stranger, from para- + oikos house — more at vicinity

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing parish

• inter-parish
• parish-pump

Kids 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