basilica
noun
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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
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
From the sixteenth century through the early twentieth, their coloratura runs and trills touched the frescoed ceilings of the great basilicas.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Long associated with major civic and religious ceremonies, the basilica offered a setting that reflected the stature Valentino held in Italy, not only as a couturier but as a cultural figure whose name became synonymous with elegance and beauty.
—Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
But this year should see the 564-foot-tall Tower of Jesus of Christ, the basilica’s 18th and final spire (the 17 shorter ones are dedicated to the 12 apostles, four Evangelists and the Virgin Mary), finished in time for the centenary of architect Antoni Gaudí’s death in June.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 1 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Basilica.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/basilica. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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