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excommunication

excommunication

11 9.8
Officially not allowed to take part in a Christian church's services or religious ceremonies
  • noun
  • /ˌɛkskəˈmjunɪˌkeɪʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : excomunión
  • I cannot, under pain of excommunication, reveal or act on whatever it is you confess to me.
  • threatened with excommunication
  • automatic excommunication
  • excommunication from the church

Examples

  • Perhaps this is one reason why bishops will not impose excommunication on politicians today.

    Blog text (16)
  • When questioned, O'Connor said his article was to prevent rather than advocate the excommunication of public officials.

    Academic text (1990)
  • You are threatened with excommunication.

  • To be a Freemason was cause for excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Gracida sent Vargas and Aquino letters of warning before the final letter of excommunication.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Frequently, sanctions, including excommunication, against believers sympathetic to the revolutionary state are observable.

    Academic text (1990)
  • O'Donnell did not threaten him with excommunication, but simply relieved Hurson of his parish council responsibilities and position.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The church intimidates nonconforming Catholic politicians by withholding communion and threatening excommunication.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Anyone who presumes to infringe our excommunication and anathema will stand under the wrath of Almighty God and the Apostles Peter and Paul.

  • The bishop announced the excommunication of the member for violating church doctrine.

Synonyms

exclusion
vsexcommunication
64 4.2

A situation when someone is not allowed to join or take part in a group

is this idea applied specifically to sacraments and church services
expulsion
vsexcommunication
39 6.1

A forced removal of a person from a place or group

focuses on excluding from religious rites rather than physical removal
banishment
vsexcommunication
14 7.6

The act of forcing someone to leave a country or community as punishment

refers instead to exclusion from sacramental participation and services
ostracism
vsexcommunication
4 7.9

Leaving someone out of a group on purpose

is an institutional exclusion from sacraments and church services rather than social practice
excision
vsexcommunication
  • Formal
1 9.8

Removing a person from a church and its membership

is the formal exclusion from sacraments and church services
herem
vsexcommunication
  • Specialized
9.9

A formal ban that stops a person from being part of a religious group

is a specific exclusion from sacraments and church services rather than general ban
outcasting
vsexcommunication
  • Archaic
8.5

Leaving someone out of a group so they cannot join in

is an official religious exclusion from sacraments and services rather than social shunning

Antonyms

104 2.7

Being approved or welcomed by other people

65 3.7

Being part of a group, activity, or process

How Excluded

excommunication
  • Formal
11 9.8
banishment
14 7.6
expulsion
39 6.1
disfellowship
  • Jargon
9.5
suspension
  • Formal
71 4.6
reprimand
  • Formal
24 6.1
admonition
17 7.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

excommunication = excommunicate (opaque) = ex + communic + ation

The noun is a regular nominalization of the verb 'excommunicate' using the suffix '-ation'.

Etymology

Excommunication comes from the parts ex- meaning 'out' and communion meaning 'sharing', and it is related to the everyday word community. So, to be excommunicated is to be put 'out of the community', which is why it means being officially excluded from church services.