ordain

verb

or·​dain ȯr-ˈdān 

ordained; ordaining; ordains

transitive verb

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

b

: destine, foreordain

It is futile to try to avoid what destiny has ordained.

intransitive verb

: to issue an order

so the gods have ordained

ordainer noun

ordainment

ȯr-ˈdān-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• destine
• doom
• fate
• foredoom
• foreordain
• predestine
• predetermine
• preordain

Examples of ordain in a Sentence

She is an ordained minister.

The process was ordained by law.

Recent Examples on the Web

After receiving a Master of Divinity degree from St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, he was ordained on Jan. 24, 1953, at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. —Jason Green, The Mercury News, 4 Dec. 2024

Per The History Makers, Jakes was ordained into the Bishopric in 1987. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 25 Nov. 2024

At least for now, Kirk has convinced Republicans that his political project is divinely ordained. —Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024

Frustrations about the slow pace of reform bubbled into the open during the assembly when the pope’s doctrine adviser ruled out ordaining women as deacons and then failed to turn up to a meeting on the topic. —Christopher Lamb, CNN, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ordeinen, from Anglo-French ordener, ordeiner, from Late Latin ordinare, from Latin, to put in order, appoint, from ordin-, ordo order

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids 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