ecclesiastical

[ih-klee-zee-as-ti-kuh l] /ɪˌkli ziˈæs tɪ kəl/

adjective

of or pertaining to the church or the clergy; churchly; clerical; not secular.

Origin

1375-1425; late Middle English; see Ecclesiastes, -ical

Related forms

ecclesiastically, adverb

antiecclesiastical, adjective

antiecclesiastically, adverb

interecclesiastical, adjective

interecclesiastically, adverb

nonecclesiastical, adjective

nonecclesiastically, adverb

unecclesiastically, adverb

Examples from the web for ecclesiastical

It's a nice ecclesiastical Hymn.
He intones the words with a dramatic ecclesiastical tremor.
It is certainly nothing novel to talk about academia's ecclesiastical roots.
Political and ecclesiastical bigwigs have gathered for the ceremony.
Up beyond the altar, the ecclesiastical and national flags hung motionlessly side by side, church and state aligned.
Calls for ending the ban on women priests are only a blip on the ecclesiastical radar screen.
Interestingly, it was ecclesiastical blessings that gave the trade a much-needed boost in this boot-shaped country.
The remainder of his writings are concerned with ecclesiastical history.
In the church's early days, excommunication meant any ecclesiastical penalty.
Their acts are a precious monument of ecclesiastical antiquity.

British Dictionary definitions for ecclesiastical

/ɪˌkliːzɪˈæstɪkəl/

adjective

of or relating to the Christian Church

Derived Forms

ecclesiastically, adverb

Word Origin and History for ecclesiastical

adj.

early 15c., from ecclesiastic + -al (1). Related: Ecclesiastically.