Unification Church

American

noun

a religious sect that combines elements of Protestantism and Buddhism, founded by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon in 1954: many of its members live in communes sponsored by the sect.

Unification Church British

noun

a religious sect founded in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon (1920–2012), S Korean industrialist and religious leader See also Moonie

"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.

The Unification Church lost an appeal Wednesday against a Japanese court's order to dissolve the sect, which came under investigation following the assassination of ex-premier Shinzo Abe.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

The man who shot Abe, Tetsuya Yamagami, said he had held a grudge against the prime minister because of his ties with the Unification Church, which had bankrupted his family.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

A Japanese court has upheld an order to dissolve the controversial Unification Church, local media report.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

The Tokyo District Court issued a dissolution order in March last year for the Japanese chapter of the Unification Church, saying it had caused "unprecedented damage" to society.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Kim Keon Hee, the wife of disgraced ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, was arrested in August and is under investigation for alleged stock manipulation and receiving gifts from the cult-like Unification Church.

From Barron's • Dec. 29, 2025

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