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Glite Dictionary
to unchurch

to unchurch

9.9
To officially stop someone being a member of a church group
  • verb
  • /ʌnˈtʃɜːrʧ/
  • Jargon
translation icon : excomulgar
  • Let the Protestants criticize and wrangle their brains out; God has not yet unchurched Rome, nor does He touch the Papal Power.

Examples

  • After the scandal, the church chose to unchurch several individuals involved in misconduct.

  • The pastor decided to unchurch members who no longer participated in services.

  • The community held a meeting to discuss whether to unchurch those who had strayed from their beliefs.

Synonyms

to excommunicate
vsto unchurch
  • Formal
24 9.3

To officially stop someone from being a member of a church as punishment

excludes someone from membership in a religious community without naming formal punishment
to outcast
vsto unchurch
1 5.7

To force someone out of a group so others avoid them

excludes membership specifically within a religious community rather than social rejection
to disfellowship
vsto unchurch
  • Jargon
1 9.9

To remove someone from a group for breaking rules

excludes membership but does not always stress formal disciplinary process

Antonyms

to include
∞ 1.0

To make a person or thing part of something larger

How Excluded

to excommunicate
  • Formal
24 9.3
to expel
194 5.0
to disfellowship
  • Jargon
1 9.9
to unchurch
  • Jargon
9.9
to exclude
338 3.0
to admit
238 2.8

Surface Forms

unchurch infinitive
unchurched past
unchurched past participle
unchurching present participle
unchurches third person singular

Morphology

unchurch = church (transparent) = un + church

The meaning is the straightforward negative/removal sense formed by adding the productive prefix 'un-' to 'church', so learners can infer the meaning from the base.

Etymology

Unchurch is made from the prefix un- meaning 'not' or 'remove' and the word church, the group or place of worship. So, to unchurch someone is to take them 'out of the church' or remove their membership.