Meaning & use
holy orders
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Meanings
nounpluralformalreligion
The position of being a priest, minister, or other ordained religious leader.
Grammar: Used with 'in' or 'take': 'be in holy orders', 'take holy orders'.
Patterns
- be in holy orders
- take holy orders
- receive holy orders
After years of study, he took holy orders and became a priest.
She is in holy orders and leads a small parish.
The bishop received holy orders in a ceremony at the cathedral.
nounpluralformalreligion
The ceremony or act of making someone a priest or minister.
Grammar: Often used after 'the' or 'receive': 'receive holy orders'.
Patterns
- receive holy orders
- the holy orders ceremony
The candidates received holy orders during the Easter service.
Holy orders are conferred by a bishop.
Common combinations
- take holy orders
- He decided to take holy orders after finishing university.
- be in holy orders
- Only men in holy orders may lead this ceremony.
- receive holy orders
- She received holy orders last spring.
- confer holy orders
- The bishop conferred holy orders on three new priests.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ordination
- Ordination is the ceremony or process; holy orders can mean either the ceremony or the status of being ordained.
- the priesthood
- The priesthood refers to priests as a group or the role itself; holy orders is the formal term for the position or the act of ordaining.
Commonly confused: holy orders or holy orders?
holy orders vs holy orders
Not to be confused with 'holy orders' meaning 'sacred commands'; in religion it is a fixed phrase for ordination.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'holy orders' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase means the position or ceremony of becoming an ordained religious leader, so 'took holy orders' fits. The other options use it as military commands, as a shopping phrase, or as a book title.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “holy orders”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.