disfrock

A bishop disfrocks a priest for breaking his vows.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To deprive of ecclesiastical status: "disfrock" means to formally remove a person from their position as a member of the clergy, typically as a punishment for misconduct or heresy.

Usage Examples

• (They removed his clerical status.)
• (He could strip the monk of his religious office.)
• (They revoked his ordination.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be disfrocked": to have one's clerical status removed.

  • After the investigation, he was formally disfrocked. (His religious authority was terminated.)

• "disfrocking" (noun): the act or process of depriving someone of clerical status.

  • The disfrocking of the abbot was a rare event. (The removal of his office was uncommon.)

Variants and Related Words

• Defrock (verb): a synonym of "disfrock", meaning to remove from the clergy.

  • The bishop defrocked the deacon for heresy. (He removed his clerical status.)

• Unfrock (verb): another synonym, less common.

  • The church unfrocked the minister for breaking the code of conduct. (They stripped him of his clerical position.)

Synonyms

• Depose: to remove from a position of authority (not limited to clergy).

  • The king was deposed by the rebels. (He was removed from power.)

• Expel: to force someone to leave an organization.

  • The seminary expelled the student for misconduct. (They forced him to leave.)

Related Idioms

• Strike from the rolls: to remove someone's name from an official list, especially of clergy.

  • The bishop was struck from the rolls after the scandal. (He was officially disfrocked.)

• Lose one's collar: an informal phrase meaning to be removed from the clergy.

  • He lost his collar after the investigation. (He was disfrocked.)