liturgical

adjective li·tur·gi·cal \ lə-ˈtər-ji-kəl , li- \

|Updated on: 5 Jul 2018

Definition of liturgical

1 : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of liturgy

the liturgical calendar

liturgical music

2 : using or favoring the use of liturgy

liturgical churches

—

liturgically

play \lə-ˈtər-ji-k(ə-)lē, li-\ adverb

Recent Examples of liturgical from the Web

But Stitt’s varied score also encompasses Jewish liturgical music, klezmer, jazz, ballads, and stirring rock tunes reminiscent of the work of Tom Kitt, of Next to Normal fame.

— julia m. klein, Philly.com, "'Big Red Sun': Search through history and music for truth about father, self," 5 June 2018
But though Bach wrote his cantatas in several annual cycles tracing the liturgical calendar, any ring of manageable size — say, something like Wagner’s 15 hours — would include just a fraction of the 200 or so works that survive.

— james r. oestreich, New York Times, "A Tribute to Bach on His Own Turf: 33 Cantatas in 48 Hours," 15 June 2018
The Black Catholic Movement also inspired unprecedented liturgical innovation as musicians, theologians, and local congregations integrated African American and Afro-Diasporic religious practices into Catholic worship.

— Smithsonian, "The History of Black Catholics in America," 8 June 2018
Next is the Anna Wintour Costume Center where the liturgical pieces encompassing more than 15 papacies from the 18th to the early 21st century are housed unto themselves.

— cara kelly, USA TODAY, "10 things to see at the Met’s 'Heavenly Bodies' exhibit, and what to know before you go," 9 May 2018
Francis though is less a liturgical purist and has insisted the church be more missionary in nature.

— Washington Post, "Pope urges Neocatechumenal missionaries to respect cultures," 6 May 2018
Carillons seem suited to traditional and liturgical music, not least because they're often installed in church towers, but over their 500-year history they've also been used for very different sorts of sounds.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "Music / Post No Bills Rockeller Chapel presses its majestic carillon into service for a two-day festival of new music," 24 May 2018
That global group of churches descended from the Church of England has held together despite differences on liturgical and theological questions, including whether to ordain women as bishops and priests.

— francis x. rocca, WSJ, "The Catholic Church’s Looming Fight Over Same-Sex Blessings," 22 May 2018
Chora Nova: Artistic Director Paul Flight leads the chorus in liturgical works by Johann Adolph Hasse and Jan Dismas Zelenka. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 26.

— joshua kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, "Joshua Kosman’s classical music picks, May 20," 17 May 2018

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