English Dictionary

SINECURE

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sinecure mean? 

SINECURE (noun)
  The noun SINECURE has 2 senses:

1. a benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral duties are attachedplay

2. an office that involves minimal dutiesplay

  Familiarity information: SINECURE used as a noun is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


SINECURE (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A benefice to which no spiritual or pastoral duties are attached

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Hypernyms ("sinecure" is a kind of...):

benefice; ecclesiastical benefice (an endowed church office giving income to its holder)


Sense 2

Meaning:

An office that involves minimal duties

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("sinecure" is a kind of...):

berth; billet; office; place; position; post; situation; spot (a job in an organization)


 Context examples 


That, perhaps, it was a little unjust, that all the great offices in this great office should be magnificent sinecures, while the unfortunate working-clerks in the cold dark room upstairs were the worst rewarded, and the least considered men, doing important services, in London.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater." (English proverb)

"One rain does not make a crop." (Native American proverb, Creole)

"He beat me and cried, and went before me to complain." (Arabic proverb)

"Just toss it in my hat and I'll sort it to-morrow." (Dutch proverb)



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