encyclical

1 of 2

adjective

en·​cyc·​li·​cal in-ˈsi-kli-kəl 

en-

: addressed to all the individuals of a group : general

encyclical

2 of 2

noun

: 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

Adjective

But in the face of a technology that has a dauntingly broad influence, the challenge is to identify regulatory priorities, and here the encyclical scores poorly. — Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026

The encyclical’s focus extends beyond technical and indicates that the danger is a culture that treats people as data, labor as an expendable input and intelligence as the measure of human worth. — Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Noun

Finally, the encyclical has much to say about the exclusion of the poor but nothing to say about redistributive policies to help them. — Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026

The title was a reference to the first encyclical on Catholic social teaching, written by Pope Leo XIII in 1891. — Walter Scheirer, The Conversation, 31 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Late Latin encyclicus, from Greek enkyklios circular, general, from en in + kyklos circle — more at in, wheel

First Known Use

Adjective

1647, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for encyclical

• countercyclical

Kids Definition

encyclical

noun

en·​cyc·​li·​cal

in-ˈsik-li-kəl, 

en-

: a letter addressed to a whole group

especially : a letter from the pope to the bishops of the church

encyclical adjective