excommunication

American  

[eks-kuh-myoo-ni-key-shuhn] / ˌɛks kəˌmyu nɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of excommunicating.

2. the state of being excommunicated.

3. the ecclesiastical sentence by which a person is excommunicated.

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Etymology

Origin of excommunication

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin excommūnicātiōn- (stem of excommūnicātiō ). See excommunicate, -ion

Explanation

The noun excommunication is a formal way of describing what happens when someone gets kicked out of his or her church, for good. Excommunication is really a kind of banishment, a punishment that's handed out by a church when one of its members breaks some important church rule. The Latin root is excommunicare, meaning "put out of the community," which is just what happens when a person is excommunicated. The term is used most often in churches whose traditions include the concept of communion, as another Latin meaning of excommunication is "to expel from communion."

Example Sentences

Excommunication could threaten the king’s position and lead to rebellions.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

"Excommunication was the reason I wasn't able to entertain becoming a priest for a long time," she says.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2022

Mary Katrantzou is taking her collection on the road to New York, but they are not allowing me to tell you about the clothes before they are in stores on pain of Great Brand Excommunication.

From New York Times • Jun. 21, 2016

Excommunication is rare and brings down the harshest punishment available on a church member.

From US News • Jan. 15, 2015

Otton or Odon, born at Rheims, bishop of Ostia, elected pope 12th March, 1088, died 1099 Excommunication of Philip king of France.

From The Power Of The Popes by Daunou, Pierre Claude Fran?ois