: an encyclical letter
specifically
: a papal letter to the bishops of the church as a whole or to those in one country
Examples of encyclical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024
Biden, who was vice president when the encyclical was released, referred to the papal document as an inspiration.
—Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2021
New York Times, 19 Oct. 2021
Benedict asked in a characteristic passage of a 2007 encyclical on hope.
—Rachel Donadio, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for encyclical 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
One of the forebears of Catholic social thought, Pope Leo XIII, published an encyclical in 1891 that outlined the deleterious effects of unregulated markets on family and community.
—Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 26 Sep. 2024
Biden, who was vice president when the encyclical was released, referred to the papal document as an inspiration.
—Victor Gaetan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2021
Noun
The foundational document of Catholic social tradition, the 1891 encyclical of Pope Leo XIII, argued that individual freedom did little to help workers secure a living wage, and valorized workers’ associations, urging government to intervene to balance the economy.
—New York Times, 19 Oct. 2021
Benedict asked in a characteristic passage of a 2007 encyclical on hope.
—Rachel Donadio, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for encyclical
Dictionary Entries Near encyclical
Cite this Entry
“Encyclical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encyclical. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share