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Synonyms

offertory

American  
[aw-fer-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, of-er-] / ˈɔ fərˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, ˈɒf ər- /

noun

plural

offertories

  1. (sometimes initial capital letter) the offering of the unconsecrated elements that is made to God by the celebrant in a Eucharistic service.

  2. Ecclesiastical.

    1. the verses, anthem, or music said, sung, or played while the offerings of the people are received at a religious service.

    2. that part of a service at which offerings are made.

    3. the offerings themselves.

offertory British  
/ ˈɒfətərɪ /

noun

  1. the oblation of the bread and wine at the Eucharist

  2. the offerings of the worshippers at this service

  3. the prayers said or sung while the worshippers' offerings are being received

"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

Other Word Forms

  • offertorial adjective

Etymology

Origin of offertory

1350–1400; Middle English offertorie < Medieval Latin offertōrium place to which offerings are brought, offering, oblation, equivalent to Latin offer ( re ) ( offer ) + -tōrium -tory 2; oblation

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.

As the priest then began the offertory portion of the liturgy, which often is accompanied by quiet music, the organist played a reflective piece very slowly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

Whidden, a tenor, sang an offertory song titled “The Anchor Holds.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2025

Documents filed with the bankruptcy court on Thursday show that COVID-19 and social distancing restrictions led to smaller offertory collections at the 135 parishes on Long Island since March.

From Washington Times • Oct. 1, 2020

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales also says there should be no offertory procession or collection, and parishioners should be encouraged to give online instead.

From BBC • Jul. 18, 2020

Sister read Doña Laura's note explaining that this was an offertory bank, and everyone got to work a penny in the cloud and watch the little figure rise.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.