ecclesiastic 1 of 2

adjective

i-ˌklē-zē-ˈa-stik How to pronounce ecclesiastic (audio)
Definition of ecclesiasticnext
as in ecclesiastical
of or relating to a church a council to make final determinations on ecclesiastic matters

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ecclesiastic

2 of 2

noun

as in priest
a person specially trained and authorized to conduct religious services in a Christian church as the leading ecclesiastic for his church in the state, the bishop must be beyond reproach in everything he does

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ecclesiastic
Adjective
Think of it like an ecclesiastic LinkedIn. — Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 11 Oct. 2025 Waugh was based for many years in a grand house in nearby Combe Florey and adapted this local ecclesiastic landmark for fictional purposes. — Literary Hub, 12 Feb. 2026 The Vatican defended the extension by saying the agreement was purely ecclesiastic and pastoral in nature, and not political. — Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 22 Oct. 2020 But Thondup is also sharply critical of the Tibetan political and ecclesiastic elite for their gross mismanagement of their relations with China. — Anne F. Thurston, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2016 This will be followed by a final period in Florence to learn the technique and historical evolution of egg tempera, to acquire ancient handweaving skills and expand her knowledge of its applications in the ecclesiastic context. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 May 2026 Forbidden passion fueled the plot of The Thorn Birds in which the late Richard Chamberlain, played the priest Ralph de Bricassart, a heartthrob in ecclesiastic wear. — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025 Back then, Kennedy was constantly fending off accusations from Protestant ecclesiastic types who were wary that his nomination meant the pontiff, John XXIII, was already packing his bags for a move into the White House. — Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
Of all the precious goods accumulated by the rulers and ecclesiastics of late medieval Ethiopia, the most charged of all were books. — Peter Brown, The New York Review of Books, 24 Sep. 2020 This shop for ecclesiastics has an exquisite selection of high-quality pieces. — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2019 The old cloister, as the walled domain of the Chapter of Canons was called, housed unusual and not invariably pious persons, as well as the worldly ecclesiastics themselves. — Bruce Dale, National Geographic, 17 Apr. 2019 There are nearly 70 community leaders — from entrepreneurs to ecclesiastics (and a rabbi thrown in for good measure) — who have joined to address the problems that have held Louisville back for decades. — Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal, 2 Feb. 2018 This was the Fairy Tree L’Arbre des Dames or Le Beau Mai tree, whereupon extra-ecclesiastic celebrations were staged. — C.d. Wright, Harper's magazine, 10 Jan. 2019 Rather, Ryrie, a prize-winning historian as well as an ecclesiastic, has broadened his scope to take in nearly 750 years of doubt and disbelief in the professedly Christian West. — Graham Hillard, National Review, 5 Dec. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ecclesiastic
  1. ecclesiastical
  2. priest
  3. religious
  4. preacher
  5. clergyman
  6. bishop
Adjective
  • In his decision, Chief District Chief Judge Amos Mazzant ruled that a First Amendment protection for churches, known as the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, applied to Gateway.
    — Giles Hudson, CBS News, 24 June 2026
  • Judge Amos Mazzant in the Eastern District of Texas ruled a First Amendment protection for churches, the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine, applied to Gateway.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026
Definition of ecclesiastical
Noun
  • In places such as Taiwan, Daoist priests can be seen today conducting rituals at community temples and annual festivals.
    — Michael Naparstek, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • At the moment the priest elevated the host during the consecration — the most sacred moment of the Catholic Mass, when Catholics believe bread becomes the body of Christ — thunder cracked loudly overhead.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
Definition of priest
Adjective
  • Having witnessed centuries of religious warfare in Europe, when millions were killed for their beliefs, the framers took pains to make sure nothing like that would happen here.
    — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Supporters argue that the gatherings represent a form of devotion untethered from rigid rituals and the gatekeeping normally associated with temples or religious processions.
    — Ayushi Shah, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of religious
Noun
  • The dynamic duo of Jonda Valentine, an artist and daughter of a Pentecostal preacher, and her longtime friend Christa Suppan, who started as a bartender when Lipstick first opened, share co-ownership of the two bars.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 July 2026
  • The street preacher asks if someone could be cited if a transgender person is offended if they are misgendered by another person.
    — Emily Holshouser July 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
Definition of preacher
Noun
  • Robin, our hero, is the son of a country clergyman.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
  • The trio of vicars starts with James Norton as Sidney Chambers, the doe-eyed clergyman with a taste for cool jazz and clever women.
    — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 14 June 2026
Definition of clergyman
Noun
  • The ritual confers the Holy Spirit from one bishop to another and recalls Christ’s gesture to his apostles.
    — Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Under the church’s in-house canon law, consecrating a bishop without papal consent incurs an automatic excommunication for both the people administering the consecration and the bishops receiving it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of bishop

Browse Nearby Words

ecclesial
ecclesiastic
ecclesiastical
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Cite this Entry

“Ecclesiastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ecclesiastic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of ecclesiastic for Spanish Speakers

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