liturgy
Americannoun
plural
liturgies-
a form of public worship; ritual.
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a collection of formularies for public worship.
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a particular arrangement of services.
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a particular form or type of the Eucharistic service.
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the service of the Eucharist, especially this service Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Church.
noun
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the forms of public services officially prescribed by a Church
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Also called: Divine Liturgy. (often capital) Eastern Churches the Eucharistic celebration
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a particular order or form of public service laid down by a Church
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of liturgy
1550–60; < Late Latin lītūrgia < Greek leitourgía public service, ecclesiastical Greek: Eucharist, equivalent to leitourg ( ós ) minister + -ia -y 3
Explanation
A liturgy is like a script for a religious service, the official set of rules for performing a religious ceremony. Liturgy has everything to do with the way people worship in public. In fact, this noun comes to us from the Greek word leitourgia, which means "public service, worship of the gods." In Christianity, The Liturgy is a specific service for the sacrament of the Eucharist. But every religion has their own form of liturgy or set way of performing certain worship rituals.
Vocabulary lists containing liturgy
Sapiens
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This Week In Culture: Current Events Vocab for September 26–October 2, 2020
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"Be Prepared" by Vera Brosgol
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After entering the church, Cardinal Farrell will lead the Liturgy of the Word, before the church is opened to visitors to pay their respects.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2025
The Russian leader crossed himself several times during the ceremony, known as the Divine Liturgy.
From Reuters • Apr. 15, 2023
Worshipers lighting candles at a Divine Liturgy at St. Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Kyiv to mark Palm Sunday, on April 9, a week before the Orthodox Easter.
From New York Times • Mar. 7, 2023
The prayers, known as the Liturgy of the Hours, are a spiritual practice observed in many contemplative monasteries such as the Passionists.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 2, 2018
One Sunday in March, she arrived at Assumption before the Divine Liturgy had started.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
