Meaning & Definition of Excommunication in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: The formal exclusion of a member from a religious community or congregation.

  Example Sentence: After repeated misconduct, the parishioner faced excommunication from the church.

• Definition: A punitive action taken by a church to prevent a member from receiving sacraments or participating in religious practices.

  Example Sentence: The bishop decided on excommunication as the final measure for the heretic.

Etymology

Origin: Latin excommunicatio, from ex- 'out of' + communicare 'to share', making it essentially a removal from communion with the church.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• excommunicated from: Being officially barred from participating in a religious community.
• threat of excommunication: The potential consequences of one's actions leading to exclusion from a church.
• act of excommunication: The formal procedure executed to expel a member from the church.

Translations

• Spanish: excomunión

• French: excommunication

• German: Exkommunikation

• Russian: экскоммуникация

Related Words

• communion: The act of sharing or holding something in common, often used in a religious context.

• heretic: A person holding beliefs contrary to a religion, leading to the possibility of excommunication.

• clergy: The body of all people ordained for religious duties.

Slang Meanings of excommunication

• Meaning: Kicked out of the church.

  Example Sentence: He was totally exed from his church after the scandal.

• Meaning: Being put on the outs with the community.

  Example Sentence: After his remarks, he got a real excommunication vibe from the group.