ecumenical

play

adjective ec·u·men·i·cal \ ˌe-kyə-ˈme-ni-kəl , -kyü- \

Definition of ecumenical

1 :worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application

2 a :of, relating to, or representing the whole of a body of churches

b :promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation

—

ecumenically

play \ˌe-kyə-ˈme-ni-k(ə-)lē, -kyü-\ adverb

See ecumenical defined for English-language learners

See ecumenical defined for kids

Recent Examples of ecumenical from the Web

Although dubbed an ecumenical procession, more than 50 organizations are listed as sponsors, ranging from churches and political parties to environmental advocates and civil rights groups.

— USA TODAY, "Border wall protests planned in South Texas," 11 Aug. 2017
Founder of the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster, Paisley was a biblical literalist and a bitter foe of the worldwide ecumenical movement that was building bridges between the Protestant and Catholic faiths in the 1960s.

— j.r. jones, Chicago Reader, "Lifelong political antagonists in Northern Ireland find common ground in The Journey," 5 July 2017
Courier-Journal An ecumenical memorial service to pay tribute to Muhammad Ali's legacy has been scheduled at the plaza next to the Muhammad Ali Center for Saturday from 8 to 9 a.m.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Muhammad Ali memorial service scheduled for this weekend, one year after his death," 30 May 2017
Activities will again continue on Sunday morning at 7 a.m. with the annual sunrise worship service complete with color guard from the Cub Scout pack from Annunciata Church and ecumenical choir.

— joan dittmann, chicagotribune.com, "Lake festivals offer wealth of activities," 25 May 2017
The alternative, of course, is an ecumenical cynicism toward everyone and everything.

— robert f. worth, New York Times, "Aleppo After the Fall," 24 May 2017
Bishop Newman also represented the bishops in Catholic-Jewish consultations under the committee on inter-religious and ecumenical affairs.

— tim prudente, baltimoresun.com, "Longtime Baltimore auxiliary Bishop William Newman dies," 21 May 2017
Bishop Newman also represented the bishops in Catholic-Jewish consultations under the committee on interreligious and ecumenical affairs.

— matthew hay brown, baltimoresun.com, "William C. Newman, auxiliary bishop for Archdiocese of Baltimore and former superintendent of its schools, dies," 20 May 2017
That ecumenical gesture is characteristic of the Stetties’ cosmopolitan fervor, which extended to an active interest in the Harlem Renaissance, through their friend the critic, photographer, and patron Carl Van Vechten.

— peter schjeldahl, The New Yorker, "Revisiting Florine Stettheimer’s Place in Art History," 15 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ecumenical.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ecumenical

Late Latin oecumenicus, from Late Greek oikoumenikos, from Greek oikoumenē the inhabited world, from feminine of oikoumenos, present passive participle of oikein to inhabit, from oikos house — more at vicinity

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1587

See Words from the same year

ECUMENICAL Defined for English Language Learners

ecumenical

play

adjective

Definition of ecumenical for English Language Learners

: involving people from different kinds of Christian churches

Learn More about ecumenical

Spanish Central: Translation of ecumenical Nglish: Translation of ecumenical for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ecumenical for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up ecumenical? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

ecumenical

Definition of ecumenical

ecumenically

Recent Examples of ecumenical from the Web

Origin and Etymology of ecumenical

ECUMENICAL Defined for English Language Learners

ecumenical

Definition of ecumenical for English Language Learners

Learn More about ecumenical

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

anathematize

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Let's Talk 'Tea'

8 Words and Phrases from Boxing and Wrestling

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

True or False?

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066

ecumenical

Definition of ecumenical

ecumenically

Explore M-W

Recent Examples of ecumenical from the Web

Origin and Etymology of ecumenical

ECUMENICAL Defined for English Language Learners

ecumenical

Definition of ecumenical for English Language Learners

Learn More about ecumenical

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066