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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.

See Examples For:

“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

In later generations, many Americans would share the Transcendentalists’ conviction that personal enlightenment could supersede churchly doctrines, and followed this faith into diverse forms of self-help and alternative spirituality.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 18, 2018

In the central room, where a Chanel couture wedding dress sits under a dome of digitally projected embroidery, all that could be heard was the churchly incantation of the Brian Eno soundtrack.

From New York Times ● May 4, 2016

In the episcopal palace are a number of fine portraits, which are more a record of manners and customs in dress than they are of churchly history.

From The Cathedrals and Churches of the Rhine by M. F. (Milburg Francisco) Mansfield

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