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Synonyms

churchly

American  
[church-lee] / ˈtʃɜrtʃ li /

adjective

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

    churchly vestments.


churchly British  
/ ˈtʃɜːtʃlɪ /

adjective

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of churchly

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

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.

“Beyond Belief” is far more schematic, to the extent that the various chapters—nine, to be exact—focus on aspects of the game that correspond to churchly concepts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

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

From Washington Post • May 3, 2022

A video screen shaped like ragged, torn paper was suspended over the Disney organ pipes, on which was presented abstract churchly imagery to set the scene.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2015

Ms. Soper’s audaciously eclectic score deftly blends hints of everything from Renaissance vocal music to churchly chorales to sassy show songs to piercing modernism.

From New York Times • Sep. 11, 2014

He begged Liszt to use his influence in securing the admission of female voices in service of the church because he—Rossini—did not care to hear his churchly compositions sung by croaking boys' voices!

From Franz Liszt by Huneker, James

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