basilica

noun

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

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

Other Words from basilica Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about basilica

Keep scrolling for more

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.

Examples of basilica in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hallway of the basilica at the Valley of the Fallen. — Jeannette Neumann, WSJ, "Spain’s Plan to Exhume Franco Unearths Divisions," 6 Sep. 2018 So far, that data has helped create a 3D digital reconstruction of what the basilica would have looked like in the 4th century. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Archaeologists map centuries of history beneath world’s oldest cathedral," 30 Nov. 2018 The regal basilica where Franco is buried attracts a smattering of his remaining supporters and fresh flowers are placed on his grave most days. — Jeannette Neumann, WSJ, "Spain’s Parliament Approves Exhumation of Franco," 13 Sep. 2018 The Valley of the Fallen complex includes a mausoleum and basilica in a neoclassic style and is a popular pilgrimage site for people who are nostalgic for the dictatorship. — Fox News, "Spain sets in motion plan to dig up former dictator Franco," 24 Aug. 2018 The basilica is run by Benedictine priests who live in an adjacent abbey. — Raphael Minder, New York Times, "Plan to Exhume Franco Renews Spain’s Wrestle With History," 7 July 2018 Yanez had been a longtime volunteer at the basilica. — Peter Hermann, Washington Post, "Pedestrian dies after being struck by a vehicle in Northeast Washington on New Year’s Eve," 8 Jan. 2018 But thousands of children pass through the Vatican walls every day, touring the Vatican Museums, attending papal audiences and Masses and visiting St. Peter's Square and basilica. — Nicole Winfield, Fox News, "Vatican City still has no policy to fight clergy sex abuse," 1 July 2018 The basilica itself is an astonishing feat of engineering, carved 860 feet directly into the granite of the mountain. — Matías Costa, Smithsonian, "The Battle Over the Memory of the Spanish Civil War," 28 June 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.