ecumenical

American  

[ek-yoo-men-i-kuhl, ee-kyoo-] / ˈɛk yʊˈmɛn ɪ kəl, ˈi kyʊ- /

Archaic, ecumenic;

adjective

1. general; universal.

2. pertaining to the whole Christian church.

3. promoting or fostering Christian unity throughout the world.

4. of or relating to a movement ecumenical movement, especially among Protestant groups since the 1800s, aimed at achieving universal Christian unity and church union through international interdenominational organizations that cooperate on matters of mutual concern.

5. interreligious or interdenominational.

   an ecumenical marriage.

6. including or containing a mixture of diverse elements or styles; mixed.

   an ecumenical meal of German, Italian, and Chinese dishes.

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ecumenical British  

/ ˌɛk-, ˌiːkjʊˈmɛnɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Christian Church throughout the world, esp with regard to its unity

2. 1. tending to promote unity among Churches

   2. of or relating to the international movement initiated among non-Catholic Churches in 1910 aimed at Christian unity: embodied, since 1937, in the World Council of Churches

3. rare universal; general; worldwide

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Other Word Forms

• ecumenically adverb
• nonecumenic adjective
• nonecumenical adjective
• nonoecumenic adjective
• unoecumenic adjective

Etymology

Origin of ecumenical

1835–45; < Late Latin oecumenicus belonging to the whole inhabited world (< Greek oikoumenikós, equivalent to oikoumen- (stem of passive present participle of oikeîn to inhabit) + -ikos -ic ) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Then he travelled to Iznik for an ecumenical celebration marking 1,700 years since the First Council of Nicaea, one of the early Church's most important gatherings.

From Barron's

The town’s dominant monument is Little Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine church that in the eighth century hosted the last ecumenical council recognized by both the Eastern and Western churches.

From The Wall Street Journal

James Reid, 49 and a lifelong Memphian, had been to the hotel many times before, including for annual ecumenical meetings.

From Salon

The King and Queen will meet the Pope and senior Vatican officials and there will be a special ecumenical service, bringing together Catholic and Anglican traditions, which will see the King and Pope praying together.

From BBC

He moved in this world in an ecumenical way that went beyond his beloved church.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comprehensive