kirk
2 synonyms for kirk, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A church, especially in Scottish and northern English usage.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
parish church
How to use kirk
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
the parish kirk
kirk elder
the auld kirk
Etymology
From Northern Middle English kyrke, related to Old Norse kirkja and Old English cirice — the same root that gave us "church." Kirk and church are essentially the same word arriving through different regional paths.
Full origin of kirk →Frequently asked questions
What does “kirk” mean?
The word “kirk” means a church, especially in Scottish and northern English usage. In plain terms, a Scottish or Northern English word for "church," also used formally for the Church of Scotland.
How do you pronounce “kirk”?
“Kirk” is pronounced kurk (/kɜɹk/ in IPA).
How do you use “kirk” in a sentence?
Here is “kirk” used in a sentence: “They walked down to the kirk every Sunday morning.”
What part of speech is “kirk”?
“Kirk” is a noun.
Where does the word “kirk” come from?
The word “kirk” comes from Old English. From Northern Middle English kyrke, related to Old Norse kirkja and Old English cirice — the same root that gave us "church." Kirk and church are essentially the same word arriving through different regional paths.
Is “kirk” a common word?
“Kirk” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a kirk and a church?
A kirk is simply a church, especially in Scottish and northern English usage. The word means the same thing as "church" but signals a regional or dialect variant rather than a different type of building.
Is kirk used in standard English outside Scotland?
Kirk is chiefly associated with Scottish and northern English usage rather than standard English generally. Elsewhere, "church" is the more common and widely understood term.
Is Kirk also used as a name?
While kirk as a common noun means church, especially in Scottish usage, the same spelling also appears as a surname and given name, reflecting its regional roots.
