: an encyclical letter
specifically
: a papal letter to the bishops of the church as a whole or to those in one country
Examples of encyclical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2021
The pontiff has also mobilized other religious leaders since 2015, when the encyclical was published.
—Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2021
New York Times, 19 Oct. 2021
Benedict asked in a characteristic passage of a 2007 encyclical on hope.
—Rachel Donadio, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for encyclical 
Adjective
Biden, who was vice president when the encyclical was released, referred to the papal document as an inspiration.
—Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2021
The pontiff has also mobilized other religious leaders since 2015, when the encyclical was published.
—Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2021
Noun
The foundational document of Catholic social tradition, the 1891 encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, argued that individual freedom did little to help workers secure a living wage, and valorized workers’ associations, urging government to intervene to balance the economy.
—New York Times, 19 Oct. 2021
Benedict asked in a characteristic passage of a 2007 encyclical on hope.
—Rachel Donadio, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for encyclical
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'encyclical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Encyclical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encyclical. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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