adj
Uncommon
ecclesiastical
uh-KLEE-zee-a-stih-kuhl
Ecclesiastical (adj) means relating to a church or its organisation and clergy. Example: “The bishop presided over the ecclesiastical court.”
adj
1
Relating to a church or its organisation and clergy.
"The bishop presided over the ecclesiastical court."
"Ecclesiastical law once governed marriage and inheritance in England."
"The vicar attended an ecclesiastical meeting about repairs to the old cathedral."
How to use ecclesiastical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with the church — its buildings, officials, laws, or organisation.
Common pairings
ecclesiastical law
ecclesiastical history
ecclesiastical authority
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more ecclesiastical
- Superlative
- most ecclesiastical
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bishop presided over the _____ court.
Etymology
From Latin ecclesiasticus, ultimately from Greek ekklēsía, "assembly" or "congregation" — the same root behind the word "church" in several languages.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
antiecclesiastical
nonecclesiastical
nonchurchly
nonecclesiastic
unchurchlike
unchurchly
unecclesiastical
Related words
Rhymes for ecclesiastical
See all rhymes for ecclesiastical →Frequently asked questions
What does “ecclesiastical” mean?
The word “ecclesiastical” means relating to a church or its organisation and clergy. In plain terms, to do with the church — its buildings, officials, laws, or organisation.
How do you pronounce “ecclesiastical”?
“Ecclesiastical” is pronounced uh-KLEE-zee-a-stih-kuhl (/əˌkli.ziˈæ.stə.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “ecclesiastical” in a sentence?
Here is “ecclesiastical” used in a sentence: “The bishop presided over the ecclesiastical court.”
What is the opposite of “ecclesiastical”?
The opposite of “ecclesiastical” — its antonyms — are antiecclesiastical, nonecclesiastical, nonchurchly, nonecclesiastic and unchurchlike.
What part of speech is “ecclesiastical”?
“Ecclesiastical” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ecclesiastical” come from?
The word “ecclesiastical” comes from Latin. From Latin ecclesiasticus, ultimately from Greek ekklēsía, "assembly" or "congregation" — the same root behind the word "church" in several languages.
Is “ecclesiastical” a common word?
“Ecclesiastical” is an uncommon word in modern English.
