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happy-clappy

British  
/ ˈhæpɪˈklæpɪ /

adjective

  1. of or denoting a form of evangelical Christianity in which members of the congregation sing and clap enthusiastically during acts of worship

"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

noun

  1. Also called: happy clapper. an enthusiastic evangelical Christian

"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

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:

At first glance, the Jesus Army seemed a "happy-clappy" church set in the Northamptonshire countryside, with two- or three thousand members, a gaudy military-style uniform, and a fleet of rainbow-coloured battle buses.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2025

And when he wasn’t staging happy-clappy revues, he was playing tremulous, reverent acoustic music, as on the Seven Swans album, whose vulnerabilities still felt studied and removed.

From Slate ● Sep. 25, 2020

But I too have to confess my nonplussedness: Of all the strains of 1960s folk revivalism, the last I’d have figured anyone missed was the happy-clappy collegiate spirit of the New Christy Minstrels.

From Slate ● Sep. 12, 2013

One frames the Olympic stadium, currently as beautiful as it will ever be, as its spare steel frame is not yet engulfed in the happy-clappy cladding it is due to receive.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 19, 2010

I used to loathe its happy-clappy gaucheness, but now I quite like it, despite knowing that there’s nothing gauche about its indomitable owner.

From New York Times ● Mar. 29, 2010

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