basilica

American  

[buh-sil-i-kuh, -zil-] / bəˈsɪl ɪ kə, -ˈzɪl- /

noun

1. an early Christian or medieval church of the type built especially in Italy, characterized by a plan including a nave, two or four side aisles, a semicircular apse, a narthex, and often other features, as a short transept, a number of small semicircular apses terminating the aisles, or an atrium. The interior is characterized by strong horizontality, with little or no attempt at rhythmic accents. All spaces are usually covered with timber roofs or ceilings except for the apse or apses, which are vaulted.

2. one of the seven main churches of Rome or another Roman Catholic church accorded the same religious privileges.

3. (in ancient Rome) a large oblong building used as a hall of justice and public meeting place.

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basilica British  

/ bəˈzɪlɪkə /

noun

1. a Roman building, used for public administration, having a large rectangular central nave with an aisle on each side and an apse at the end

2. a rectangular early Christian or medieval church, usually having a nave with clerestories, two or four aisles, one or more vaulted apses, and a timber roof

3. a Roman Catholic church having special ceremonial rights

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basilica Cultural  

1. A large Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox church building. A basilica is built with several parallel aisles separated by rows of columns, ending in a semicircular structure, the apse. Saint Peter's Basilica is the church of the Vatican in Rome.

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Other Word Forms

• basilican adjective

Etymology

Origin of basilica

1535–45; < Latin < Greek basilikḗ hall, short for basilikḗ oikía royal house. See basilic

Example Sentences

Severus sponsored public building projects throughout the empire: Many of the most impressive surviving Roman remains—not least the Severan forum and basilica in his home city of Leptis Magna—date from his reign.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

The skull was also damaged when the body was moved into the basilica in the 13th century.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

The extra height now atop the Jesus Christ tower means the Barcelona basilica now surpasses Ulm Minster in Germany as the world's tallest church.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Outside the basilica, crowds gathered to pay their respects, many holding red ribbons in homage to the designer's signature colour - "Valentino red".

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

St Mark’s basilica revealed to Monteverdi a new world of possibility; as far as I know, this is the only example in Western music of a building changing the course of history.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall