# parish

/ˈpæɹɪʃ/ (US) · /pˈæɹɪʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/parish
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. church district

noun · CEFR B2

a small area that has its own church and a priest or minister to look after the people living there.

For teachers: the smallest administrative unit in the Christian church, consisting of a local community under the spiritual care of a priest or minister.

- The local priest has lived in this parish for over twenty years.
- The bishop visited the rural parish to oversee the restoration of the medieval church and meet with the local congregation.

### 2. local government area

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · American English

the smallest unit of local government in some countries, like the UK or parts of the US.

For teachers: a small administrative subdivision of a county or district used for local civil government.

- The parish council met to discuss the new playground equipment.
- In Louisiana, the state is divided into parishes rather than counties for administrative and legal purposes.

Usage: In the UK, this refers to a 'civil parish'; in Louisiana, it is the equivalent of a 'county'.

### 3. the people in a church area

noun · CEFR B2

the group of people who live in a church district or attend a specific church.

For teachers: the collective body of inhabitants or churchgoers within a specific ecclesiastical district.

- The whole parish came together to raise money for the school.
- The news of the vicar's retirement was met with great sadness by the entire parish.

## Examples

- The local parish organizes a food drive every winter.
- Members of the parish gathered at the community hall to discuss the upcoming renovations to the historic chapel.
- While primarily an ecclesiastical division, the parish historically served as the fundamental unit of local administration, managing poor relief and road maintenance before the rise of modern municipal councils.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.