clericalism

American

[kler-i-kuh-liz-uhm] / ˈklɛr ɪ kəˌlɪz əm /

noun

clerical principles.
clerical power or influence in government, politics, etc. (distinguished from laicism).
support of such power or influence.

clericalism British

/ ˈklɛrɪkəˌlɪzəm /

noun

a policy of upholding the power of the clergy
the power of the clergy esp when excessively strong

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

clericalist

noun

Etymology

Origin of clericalism

First recorded in 1860–65; clerical + -ism

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023