churchly

American  

[church-lee] / ˈtʃɜrtʃ li /

adjective

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

   churchly vestments.

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churchly British  

/ ˈtʃɜːtʃlɪ /

adjective

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

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Other Word Forms

• churchliness noun
• unchurchly adjective

Etymology

Origin of churchly

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

Example Sentences

“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

We must consider the historical and churchly elements, and the orthodox objectivity which shows respect for church tradition and which appreciates the purity, clearness, and force of confession.

From The Story of Our Hymns by Ryden, Ernest Edwin