ecumenical

adjective

ec·​u·​men·​i·​cal ˌe-kyə-ˈme-ni-kəl 

-kyü-

1

a

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

b

: promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation

2

: worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application

ecumenically

ˌe-kyə-ˈme-ni-k(ə-)lē 

-kyü-

adverb

Examples of ecumenical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement In an age when moral leadership can be hard to find, he’s become a voice of ecumenical wisdom and compassion to whom millions from every tradition can turn, for both solace and guidance. —Pico Iyer, Time, 5 July 2025

What ecumenical efforts can be expected to remain unclear, but Kirill did send the new pope a congratulatory letter following his election that seemed to signal an openness to peace. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 23 May 2025

Lastly, and most importantly to us, Protestants long for a pope with the ecumenical heart of Pope John XXIII. —Case Thorp, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 May 2025

The pontiff would also often refer to films to illustrate a spiritual or ecumenical point. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1587, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing ecumenical

• ecumenical patriarch

Rhymes for ecumenical

• oecumenical

Kids Definition

ecumenical

adjective

ec·​u·​men·​i·​cal ˌek-yə-ˈmen-i-kəl 

1

: worldwide or general in extent, influence, or application

2

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

3

: leading toward agreement or cooperation among Christians

ecumenically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Etymology

from Latin oecumenicus "worldwide," from Greek oikoumenē "the inhabited world," from oikein "to inhabit," from oikos "house"