ordained; ordaining; ordains
1
: to invest (see invest entry 2 sense 1) officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority
was ordained as a priest
2
a
: to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law : enact
we the people … do ordain and establish this Constitution—
U.S. Constitution
U.S. Constitution
b
: destine, foreordain
It is futile to try to avoid what destiny has ordained.
: to issue an order
so the gods have ordained
ordainer
noun
Examples of ordain in a Sentence
She is an ordained minister.
The process was ordained by law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Other information provided by the Archdiocese noted Reidy was ordained by Bishop Timothy J. Harrington at Saint Paul Cathedral in Worcester in 1994, and was assigned to St. Peter Parish in Worcester before becoming rector of Saint Paul Cathedral by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2025
Figures like George Wallace, a Christian and proud segregationist, and Bob Jones Sr., founder of Bob Jones University, preached sermons arguing that segregation was divinely ordained.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
Catholic natural law operates on the premise that humans are created in God’s image, and social order and domestic tranquility require that humans understand, accept and honor the qualities ordained by nature, especially the distinction between male and female.
—Peter H. Schwartz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
However, the International Monetary Fund has recently ordained some erosion of Bitcoin friendly laws in the country as a precondition for a $1.4 billion loan.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ordain
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Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2025
Figures like George Wallace, a Christian and proud segregationist, and Bob Jones Sr., founder of Bob Jones University, preached sermons arguing that segregation was divinely ordained.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
Catholic natural law operates on the premise that humans are created in God’s image, and social order and domestic tranquility require that humans understand, accept and honor the qualities ordained by nature, especially the distinction between male and female.
—Peter H. Schwartz, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
However, the International Monetary Fund has recently ordained some erosion of Bitcoin friendly laws in the country as a precondition for a $1.4 billion loan.
—Saleem H. Ali, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ordain
Cite this Entry
“Ordain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ordain. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ordain
verb
or·dain
ȯr-ˈdān 
1
: to make a person a Christian minister or priest by a special ceremony
2
a
: decree entry 2
it was ordained by law
b
: destine sense 1
we seem ordained to fail
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