ecclesiastical

[ ih-klee-zee-as-ti-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the church or the clergy; churchly; clerical; not secular.

ecclesiastical

/ ɪˌkliːzɪˈæstɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Christian Church

Derived Forms

• ecˌclesiˈastically, adverb

Other Words From

• ec·clesi·asti·cal·ly adverb
• anti·ec·clesi·asti·cal adjective
• anti·ec·clesi·asti·cal·ly adverb
• inter·ec·clesi·asti·cal adjective
• inter·ec·clesi·asti·cal·ly adverb
• nonec·clesi·asti·cal adjective
• nonec·clesi·asti·cal·ly adverb
• unec·clesi·asti·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ecclesiastical¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; Ecclesiastes, -ical

Example Sentences

So here, for your Christmas Eve pleasure, are 20 of my favorites, 10 from the ecclesiastical division and 10 secular.

From The Daily Beast

Rev. Schaefer stands in a long tradition of civil disobedience, or in this case, ecclesiastical disobedience.

From The Daily Beast

Literary history aside (or be damned), these anti-establishment, anti-ecclesiastical fabliaux are pure, unadulterated fun.

From The Daily Beast

It seems that Bush is simply taking a stab at landscapes and ecclesiastical architecture.

From The Daily Beast

He told reporters last weekend that this pope would “confront, judge and punish these crimes under ecclesiastical rules.”

From The Daily Beast

The archbishop of Manila sends to the king (July 30, 1621) an account of ecclesiastical and some other affairs in his diocese.

From Project Gutenberg

John Alphonsus Turretini died; professor of ecclesiastical history at Geneva, distinguished for his learning.

From Project Gutenberg

Condition of the archbishopric of Manila in regard to the affairs of ecclesiastical and secular government.

From Project Gutenberg

Though by birth duke of St. Cloud, he preferred the ecclesiastical state to political distinction.

From Project Gutenberg

Visitation of the ecclesiastical cabildo, clergy of Manila, and province of Pampanga.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clerical
• sectarian