Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Relating to the Christian Church or its clergy: Describes anything associated with a church, especially a Christian church, or its formal organization and activities.
   • Characteristic of a church or the clergy: Pertaining to the nature, functions, or affairs of the church or its ministers.

2. Noun:

   • A member of the clergy; a clergyman: A person who is ordained for religious duties, especially in a Christian church.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • The building's ecclesiastic architecture featured pointed arches and stained glass. (The building's church-related architecture featured pointed arches and stained glass.)
  • He specialized in ecclesiastic law. (He specialized in church law.)

• Noun:

  • The ecclesiastic delivered a powerful sermon. (The clergyman delivered a powerful sermon.)
  • A council of ecclesiastics was convened to discuss the matter. (A council of clergy members was convened to discuss the matter.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ecclesiastic authority": The power or right vested in the church or its officials.

  • The king's power was sometimes challenged by ecclesiastic authority. (The king's power was sometimes challenged by church authority.)

• "Ecclesiastic vestments": The formal garments worn by clergy during religious services.

  • The bishop donned his elaborate ecclesiastic vestments for the ceremony. (The bishop put on his elaborate church garments for the ceremony.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ecclesiastical (adj): This is the more common adjective form, identical in meaning to the adjective 'ecclesiastic'.

  • They studied ecclesiastical history. (They studied church history.)

• Ecclesiology (n): The study of churches, especially church architecture and decoration, or the theological study of the nature and structure of the Christian Church.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Ecclesiastical, churchly, clerical, pastoral, sacerdotal.
• Noun: Clergyman, cleric, churchman, minister, priest, divine.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Secular, lay, temporal, profane.
• Noun: Layperson, secular.

Related Phrases

• "Ecclesiastic court": A tribunal dealing with matters of church law and discipline.

  • The matter was referred to an ecclesiastic court. (The matter was referred to a church tribunal.)

• "Ecclesiastic polity": The system of government and organization of a church.

  • The book analyzes different forms of ecclesiastic polity. (The book analyzes different forms of church government.)

Adjective

1. of or associated with a church (especially a Christian Church)
   • ecclesiastic history

Noun

1. a clergyman or other person in religious orders