excommunicate

[ verb eks-kuh-myoo-ni-keyt; noun adjective eks-kuh-myoo-ni-kit, -keyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·com·mu·ni·cat·ed, ex·com·mu·ni·cat·ing.

1. to cut off from communion with a church or exclude from the sacraments of a church by ecclesiastical sentence.
2. to exclude or expel from membership or participation in any group, association, etc.:

   an advertiser excommunicated from a newspaper.

noun

1. an excommunicated person.

adjective

1. cut off from communion with a church; excommunicated.

excommunicate

verb

1. tr to sentence (a member of the Church) to exclusion from the communion of believers and from the privileges and public prayers of the Church

adjective

1. having incurred such a sentence

noun

1. an excommunicated person

Derived Forms

• ˌexcomˈmunicator, noun
• ˌexcomˈmunicable, adjective
• ˌexcomˈmunicative, adjective
• ˌexcomˌmuniˈcation, noun

Other Words From

• excom·muni·cator noun
• unex·com·muni·cated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of excommunicate¹

1375–1425; late Middle English excommunicaten (v.) < Late Latin excommūnicātus literally, put out of the community (past participle of excommūnicāre ), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + commūn ( is ) common, public + -ic- (by analogy with commūnicāre to communicate ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of excommunicate¹

C15: from Late Latin excommūnicāre, literally: to exclude from the community, from Latin commūnis common

Example Sentences

In Poland, it’s almost impossible for openly LGBTQ people to remain an active part of the Roman Catholic Church, which, according to activists, excommunicates people who are openly LGBTQ.

From Time

Beyond that, Cheney seems to be placing a bet on the long term — the idea that, even if she’s excommunicated from House GOP leadership and loses her seat in Congress, she might eventually emerge better for it.

From Washington Post

Petrey said that he is not aware of a mental health professional who has been excommunicated for issues directly related to their work.

From Washington Post

Although Weinstein has been excommunicated from the industry, some of his less controversial campaigning practices remain.

From Washington Post

They don’t excommunicate people who could help rebuild a majority.

From Time

Even after she left its barbed bosom, it did its best to further excommunicate and sideline her.

From The Daily Beast

Jewish and world leaders privately asked him to excommunicate Hitler, but he declined to do so.

From The Daily Beast

And rather than fight with them, they'll just excommunicate and ignore him, which half of them have already done anyway, probably.

From The Daily Beast

But he gave to the clergy the exclusive right to excommunicate, and to regulate the administration of the sacraments.

From Project Gutenberg

He could depose prelates and excommunicate the greatest personages; he enjoyed enormous revenues; he was vicegerent of the Pope.

From Project Gutenberg

The Pope allowed him to excommunicate the persons who occupied his estates, but not the King himself.

From Project Gutenberg

This mans wedding-business was so extensive and so scandalous, that the Bishop of London found it necessary to excommunicate him.

From Project Gutenberg

Yonder holy man of a bishop, who sleeps not far from you, gorged with wine and meat, might excommunicate you if he heard you!

From Project Gutenberg