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

Any matters requiring legal enforcement are referred directly to the Texas judicial system, said the tribunal, which likened its work to the services provided by Jewish Beth Din courts and Catholic ecclesiastical tribunals. — David Crary, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Two courts have now agreed that Gateway's affairs were inherently ecclesiastical and beyond the court's jurisdiction. — Andrea Lucia, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

In addition, the new king will receive a solemn ecclesiastical blessing in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026

His public utterances will brim with courtly niceties, and with legal and ecclesiastical arcana. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 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