ecclesiastical

[ih-klee-zee-as-ti-kuhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to the church or the clergy; churchly; clerical; not secular.

ecclesiastical

/ ɪˌkliːzɪˈæstɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Christian Church

Other Word Forms

• ecclesiastically adverb
• antiecclesiastical adjective
• antiecclesiastically adverb
• interecclesiastical adjective
• interecclesiastically adverb
• nonecclesiastical adjective
• nonecclesiastically adverb
• unecclesiastically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ecclesiastical¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; Ecclesiastes, -ical

Example Sentences

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem pointed out that the holy site - over which it has ecclesiastical jurisdiction - had been granted a letter of protection by the Prophet Muhammad himself.

From BBC

Thirteen years after overcoming ecclesiastical objections to the Reproductive Health Bill, the Philippines Congress is now trying to get a bill passed which would legalise divorce, something else the church disagrees with.

From BBC

He is one of three ecclesiastical staff allowed to stay in the Sistine Chapel despite not being a cardinal elector, even though they will have to leave the premises during the counting of the votes.

From BBC

Since that time, she said she had "remained consistent" in her pursuit of "proper ecclesiastical judicial process".

From BBC

Only ecclesiastical authorities sanction marriage, and do so with additional patriarchal commitments.

From Salon

Related Words

• clerical 
• sectarian