basilica

noun ba·sil·i·ca \ bə-ˈsi-li-kə also -ˈzi- \

|Updated on: 28 May 2018

Definition of basilica

1 : an oblong building ending in a semicircular apse used in ancient Rome especially for a court of justice and place of public assembly

2 : an early Christian church building consisting of nave and aisles with clerestory and a large high transept from which an apse projects

3 : a Roman Catholic church given ceremonial privileges

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basilican

play \-kən\ adjective

See basilica defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of basilica from the Web

Over the years, thousands of war dead — Nationalists and Republicans alike — were unearthed from graves across Spain and interred — often anonymously — in the basilica, an apparent attempt to bring the nation together.

— james badcock, latimes.com, "Inside the Valley of the Fallen, a search for two brothers killed in the Spanish Civil War," 10 May 2018
The climb up the scenic tower of the Catholic basilica can be challenging, but the view is worth it!

— amber storm, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Hiking at Holy Hill: An autumn kidventure," 9 Oct. 2017
But the basilica’s abbot stopped the preliminary work for their exhumation for nearly two years by appealing the judge’s decision, until top Catholic Church authorities ordered him earlier this year to comply with the judge’s ruling.

— aritz parra, The Seattle Times, "Spain resumes controversial exhumations near Franco’s tomb," 23 Apr. 2018
But the basilica’s abbot stopped the preliminary work for their exhumation for nearly two years by appealing the judge’s decision, until top Catholic Church authorities ordered him earlier this year to comply with the judge’s ruling.

— Washington Post, "Spain resumes controversial exhumations near Franco’s tomb," 23 Apr. 2018
Now the Vatican has designated for the region a second basilica, this time a 223-year-old congregation in Northern Virginia whose first donor was George Washington.

— michelle boorstein, Washington Post, "D.C. region to get its second Catholic basilica — St. Mary in Alexandria," 14 Jan. 2018
While not adorned with the bronze chandeliers and sacred paintings that bedeck the basilica, the 650-seat theater is equipped with top-of-the-line acoustics.

— grace dickinson, Philly.com, "Philly's amazing church-music concert scene is now at its Easter best," 14 Mar. 2018
We were relieved to find that once inside the vastness of the basilica — the vaults of the central nave soar to 150 feet — the multitude of visitors dwindled.

— paul boorstin, latimes.com, "A door opens into the early vision of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona," 11 Mar. 2018
The bishop of Lourdes, Nicolas Brouwet announced the declaration during Mass at the shrine’s basilica.

— elaine ganley, The Seattle Times, "Bishop declares nun’s recovery as 70th Lourdes miracle," 11 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'basilica.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

From their noun basileus, meaning “king,” the Greeks derived the adjective basilikos meaning “royal.” In ancient Thera there was a public building called “Basilike stoa,” or Royal portico, and it may have been the prototype of later Roman basilicas. The first of these was built in 184 ce, and by the time of Augustus, there were five basilicas in the vicinity of the forum. They were used for public assembly, transacting business, and judicial proceedings. When the first Christian churches were built, they were often modeled after the civil basilicas.

Origin and Etymology of basilica

borrowed from Latin, borrowed from Greek basilikḗ (for basilikḕ stoá "royal stoa"), noun derivative from feminine of basilikós "of a king, royal," from basil- (base of basileús "king, prince," of pre-Greek substratal origin) + -ikos ¹-ic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1541

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year