diaconate

noun

di·​ac·​o·​nate dī-ˈa-kə-nət How to pronounce diaconate (audio)
-ˌnāt,
dē-
1
: the office or period of office of a deacon or deaconess
2
: an official body of deacons

Examples of diaconate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web He was ordained to the diaconate in 1971 and to the priesthood in 1972. Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2023 Brignac pleaded to be let into the diaconate. David A. Hammer, NOLA.com, 16 Dec. 2020 The role of female deacons likely ended in the 12th Century when the diaconate became a steppingstone to the priesthood, Stanton said. Susan Degrane, chicagotribune.com, 30 Mar. 2022 In the early 1960s, the Second Vatican Council restored the diaconate as a permanent vocation to married men. Susan Degrane, chicagotribune.com, 30 Mar. 2022 There is, however, one category of ministry that is booming — the diaconate. San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 June 2021 The exact details of the molestation allegations that led to Wheeler’s indefinite suspension from the Archdiocese of New Orleans’ diaconate remained unavailable Tuesday. Ramon Antonio Vargas | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 4 Aug. 2020 For more information about the diaconate program, call Fr. Courant Community, 29 May 2018 The ordinary means of entering the clerical state is by ordination to the diaconate. Laurie Goodstein, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diaconate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diaconate was circa 1751

Dictionary Entries Near diaconate

Cite this Entry

“Diaconate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaconate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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