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state religion

American  

noun

  1. the official religion of a state as established by law.


Etymology

Origin of state religion

First recorded in 1820–30

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:

He is considered a “sign of God” in Twelver Shiism, the largest branch of Shiism and the state religion of Iran.

From Salon Mar. 6, 2026

Islam, the official state religion of Saudi Arabia, the self-styled guardian of Islam’s holiest sites, also prohibits alcohol consumption.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 1, 2026

In Iran, a vast multicultural country, Shiite Islam is the official state religion.

From Barron's Oct. 18, 2025

But in 1973, Pakistan's parliament created a constitution that declared the country an Islamic Republic and Islam as the state religion.

From BBC Oct. 10, 2023

Early kings were themselves the head of the state religion or else had separate high priests.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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