churchly

adjective

church·​ly ˈchərch-lē How to pronounce churchly (audio)
1
: of or relating to a church
churchly authority
2
: suitable to or suggestive of a church
a churchly setting
3
: adhering to a church
a churchly community
4
churchliness noun

Examples of churchly in a Sentence

refused to discuss churchly matters except on Sundays
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
That theme, explored with light wit and deep humanity, makes this unabashedly churchly novel strikingly relevant to our conflicted political era. Washington Post, 3 May 2022 The singer and rapper’s weary tales arrive with churchly trills, nu-metal groans, quiet-storm beats, and zero concern for coolness. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 14 Dec. 2021 Besides, the current Francis seems revolutionary enough for an era of ecological crisis, humanitarian disaster, and churchly scandal, especially since Wenders has the pope on camera directly sharing his thoughts with the audience. Ty Burr, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2018 Black leather Versace motorcycle jackets sport jeweled crucifixes inspired by Byzantine mosaics, blending edgy coolness with churchly devotion. Rhonda Garelick, The Cut, 10 May 2018 The music was a churchly choir, the lighting diffused, almost baroque. Cathy Horyn, The Cut, 15 Feb. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of churchly was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near churchly

Cite this Entry

“Churchly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/churchly. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!