Definition

1. Verb:
   • To officially exclude someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church, especially the Roman Catholic Church, as a penalty for serious offenses.
   • To formally exclude someone from membership of or participation in any group, organization, or society.

Usage

• The verb excommunicate is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person or group being excommunicated).
• It is most commonly used in a formal, religious, or institutional context.
• The action is typically performed by an authority figure or governing body within the institution.

Examples

• Religious Context:
  • The bishop threatened to excommunicate any member who publicly opposed the doctrine.
  • Centuries ago, the Church could excommunicate rulers, which was a powerful political tool.
• Secular/Figurative Context:
  • After the scandal, the political party moved to excommunicate the disgraced senator from its ranks.
  • The elite club voted to excommunicate members who failed to pay their dues.

Advanced Usage

• "To be excommunicated": This passive form is very common, focusing on the status or punishment of the subject.
  • He was excommunicated for heresy.
• "Excommunicate someone from": Used to specify the group or community from which the person is expelled.
  • The council voted to excommunicate him from the association.

Variants and Related Words

• Excommunication (n): The formal act or state of being excommunicated.
  • The excommunication was decreed by the papal court.
• Excommunicant (n): A person who has been excommunicated. (Less common)
• Excommunicable (adj): Deserving or liable to excommunication.
  • Heresy was considered an excommunicable offense.

Synonyms

• Ostracize: To exclude from a society or group. (More general, secular)
• Expel: To force someone to leave an institution or place.
• Banish: To send someone away, especially from a country, as an official punishment.
• Anathematize: To curse, condemn, or declare as evil; a strong synonym in religious contexts.

Antonyms

• Communicate: (In a specific religious sense) To admit to participation in the sacraments.
• Welcome: To greet or receive someone warmly.
• Include: To make someone part of a group.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• While there are no common idioms with the exact word excommunicate, the concept is related to phrases like:
  • Cast out: To force someone to leave a place or group.

    • He was cast out of the community for his beliefs.
  • Shun: To persistently avoid, ignore, or reject someone.

    • The community chose to shun the former member.

Verb

1. oust or exclude from a group or membership by decree
2. exclude from a church or a religious community
   • The gay priest was excommunicated when he married his partner