excommunication Definition
- 1the act of officially excluding someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church
- 2the act of excluding someone from a group or society
Using excommunication: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "excommunication" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The bishop threatened him with excommunication if he did not confess his sins.
Example
The church imposed excommunication on members who violated its rules.
Example
The king faced excommunication for his actions against the church.
excommunication Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for excommunication
Phrases with excommunication
a penalty that is incurred automatically due to certain actions, without the need for a formal declaration by the Church
Example
The Catholic Church imposes automatic excommunication on those who procure an abortion.
the most severe form of excommunication, which involves complete exclusion from the Church and its sacraments
Example
The priest was subjected to major excommunication for his heretical teachings.
a lesser form of excommunication, which involves exclusion from certain sacraments and services of the Church
Example
The bishop imposed minor excommunication on the parishioner for his disruptive behavior during the service.
Origins of excommunication
from Latin 'excommunicatio', meaning 'exclusion from communion'
Summary: excommunication in Brief
Excommunication [ˌeksˌkəmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən] refers to the act of officially excluding someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church, or from a group or society. It can be automatic or imposed by the Church, and can be major or minor. Examples include 'The bishop threatened him with excommunication if he did not confess his sins.' and 'The church imposed excommunication on members who violated its rules.'
