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

• churchly
• ecclesial
• ecclesiastic

Examples of ecclesiastical in a Sentence

ecclesiastical laws that have been in existence for centuries

Recent Examples on the Web

To be sure, some of the new pope’s ecclesiastical priorities, such as highlighting inequality in what is the world’s most unequal region, will resonate with many Latin Americans; and most Latin Americans will see the rise to the papacy of one of their own as a tremendous source of pride. —Omar G. Encarnación, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2013

Second, the dating of the Paschal Full Moon is not based on astronomical computations but rather is taken from ecclesiastical tables. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 12 Apr. 2025

Pope Francis has named an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore the next bishop, or top official, of the Diocese of Providence, a 153-year-old ecclesiastical territory of the Roman Catholic Church. —Jonathan M. Pitts, Baltimore Sun, 8 Apr. 2025

Every year, Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox, according to the Astronomical Applications Department of the U.S. Naval Observatory. —Pam Defiglio, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025

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