ecclesiology

noun

ec·​cle·​si·​ol·​o·​gy i-ˌklē-zē-ˈä-lə-jē How to pronounce ecclesiology (audio)
e-ˌklē-
plural ecclesiologies
1
: the study of church architecture and adornment
2
: theological doctrine relating to the church
ecclesiological adjective
ecclesiologist noun

Examples of ecclesiology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Questions of how to address issues at a national level in such a decentralized organization are genuinely difficult to answer, and the report grapples with those difficulties without compromising on basic questions of Baptist ecclesiology. The Editors, National Review, 25 May 2022

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin ecclēsia "assembly of Christian believers, Christian Church" + -o- + -logy — more at ecclesial

First Known Use

circa 1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ecclesiology was circa 1837

Dictionary Entries Near ecclesiology

Cite this Entry

“Ecclesiology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ecclesiology. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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