ecclesiastical

adjective

ec·​cle·​si·​as·​ti·​cal i-ˌklē-zē-ˈa-sti-kəl 

e-ˌklē-

1

: of or relating to a church especially as an established institution

2

: suitable for use in a church

ecclesiastically

i-ˌklē-zē-ˈa-sti-k(ə-)lē 

e-ˌklē-

adverb

Synonyms of ecclesiastical

• ecclesiastic
• religious
• papal

Examples of ecclesiastical in a Sentence

ecclesiastical laws that have been in existence for centuries

Recent Examples on the Web

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

But the chapel, heavy with the scent of ecclesiastical incense, felt as genuine as could be, worn from nearly two centuries of worship. — Paul Brady, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026

Walsh’s ruling gave the OCA, which is the largest of three Russian Orthodox ecclesiastical bodies in the United States, authority to govern the parish and the judge ordered the parish’s former leaders to vacate the property by June 2025. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ecclesiasticall, from Late Latin ecclēsiasticus "of the Christian Church" + Middle English -all -al entry 1 — more at ecclesiastic entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ecclesiastical

• fantastical

Kids Definition

ecclesiastical

adjective

ec·​cle·​si·​as·​ti·​cal ik-ˌlē-zē-ˈas-ti-kəl 

e-ˌklē-

variants or ecclesiastic

-tik

: of or relating to a church

ecclesiastical history

ecclesiastically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb