clericalism

noun

cler·​i·​cal·​ism ˈkler-i-kə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce clericalism (audio)
ˈkle-ri-
: a policy of maintaining or increasing the power of a religious hierarchy

Examples of clericalism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Decameron was the most infamous for its overt satirical commentary on clericalism within Italy that existed during the Middle Ages. Rendy Jones, EW.com, 27 July 2024 For one thing, the party, which was founded in 1956 by a former Nazi functionary and SS officer to represent the pan-Germanists and national liberals, was formed to oppose SPO socialism and the OVP’s catholic clericalism. Franz-Stefan Gady, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2017 Three decades later, the church has become a prominent presence throughout the entire military, but the nuclear branch stands out as the most imbued with clericalism. Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019 Yet while many commentators have focused on clericalism in the U.S., our country is arguably the least susceptible to it, given the spirit of independent action of everyday Catholics. Tim Busch, National Review, 23 Dec. 2023 Through the process of consultation and conversation, Francis intends to combat clericalism in the Catholic Church by offering a different model for how the church can work. Daniel Speed Thompson, The Conversation, 4 Oct. 2023 Once again clericalism triumphed. The Salt Lake Tribune, 11 Nov. 2020 Voltaire failed to understand the plight of provincial Catholics; Weinberger would doubtless take him to task for a gentlemanly anti-clericalism. Russell Jacoby, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2023 Along the way, the office sorted labor into novel categories: pedantic clericalism, bureaucratic management, executive power. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 6 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clericalism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clericalism was in 1864

Dictionary Entries Near clericalism

Cite this Entry

“Clericalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clericalism. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on clericalism

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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