churchly

[church-lee]

adjective

1. of or appropriate for the church or a church; ecclesiastical.

   churchly vestments.

churchly

/ ˈtʃɜːtʃlɪ /

adjective

1. appropriate to, associated with, or suggestive of church life and customs

Other Word Forms

• churchliness noun
• unchurchly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of churchly¹

before 900; Old English ciriclīc, equivalent to cirice church + -līc -ly

Example Sentences

There is a corona of religious fervor around the court, a churchly ethos that threatens to turn our whole country upside down.

Read more on New York Times

That theme, explored with light wit and deep humanity, makes this unabashedly churchly novel strikingly relevant to our conflicted political era.

Read more on Washington Post

He unleashed raw operatic passion in soul-searching arias rather than a churchly Passion.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Nancy Stewart and granddaughter, Louise Coghlan, have been shielding together since March last year, and have set themselves a churchly challenge.

Read more on BBC

In fact, for more traditional denominations, with a historical emphasis on social outreach, the novel coronavirus has demonstrated their commitment to churchly mission.

Read more on Washington Times