Ecclesiastes

American  

[ih-klee-zee-as-teez] / ɪˌkli ziˈæs tiz /

noun

1. a book of the Bible. Eccles., Eccl.

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Ecclesiastes British  

/ ɪˌkliːzɪˈæstiːz /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) a book of the Old Testament, probably written about 250 _bc

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Ecclesiastes Cultural  

1. A book in the Old Testament containing the reflections of a philosopher known as “the Preacher.” “Vanity of vanity saith the Preacher, … all is vanity,” where the word “vanity” indicates that striving is in vain, because death comes to all, and “there is no new thing under the sun.” He believes that our character and achievements do not affect our fate. “The race is not to the swift nor to the strong.” He concludes that one should enjoy the good things found in life until death brings oblivion. The argument and tone of this book are very unlike those of the other books of the Bible (see also Bible). (See nothing new under the sun, A time to be born and a time to die, and Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.)

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Etymology

Origin of Ecclesiastes

From Late Latin, from Greek ekklēsiastḗs “assemblyman, preacher,” equivalent to ekklēsí(a) “assembly” + -astēs noun suffix, variant of -istēs after a vowel; see origin at ecclesia, -ist

Example Sentences

Ecclesiastes 11:1: “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026

The term is from the biblical passage Ecclesiastes 3:1: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 23, 2025

As the Book of Ecclesiastes tells us, there was nothing new under the sun.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 9, 2025

In the first scene of “Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions,” Paula Vogel’s antic, mournful new drama, Martha, a character modeled on the playwright, offers a version of Ecclesiastes.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2024

He held a Bible in his huge hands and read from Job and Ecclesiastes until I could hardly stand to listen.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler