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

As professors in English and Religion at Belmont University, a mid-sized ecumenical Christian university in Nashville, Tenn., grant work has been new to us. —Sarah Blomeley, Time, 25 Apr. 2025

His miracles were ecumenical, often involving the untouchable. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 24 Mar. 2025

Yet the realities of the region challenge Turkey's mix of pragmatism and ecumenical idealism. —Mustafa Akyol, Foreign Affairs, 21 Mar. 2012

At my university, University of Southern California, a multi-ethnic ecumenical cohort held candlelight vigils, teach-ins, and rallies demanding an end to the slaughter. —Sandy Tolan, Rolling Stone, 16 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"