liturgy

noun

lit·​ur·​gy ˈli-tər-jē 

plural liturgies

1

often capitalized : a eucharistic rite

2

: a rite or body of rites prescribed for public worship

a baptismal liturgy

3

: a customary repertoire of ideas, phrases, or observances

Examples of liturgy in a Sentence

studying the liturgies of different religions

He was studying Christian liturgy.

Recent Examples on the Web

These daily liturgies, open to diverse groups from local parishioners to international pilgrims, emphasize Notre Dame's role as a unifying spiritual hub. —Thomas Adamson and Sylvie Corbet The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 9 Dec. 2024

About 2,500 people heard the liturgy, including many clergy and dignitaries. —Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024

The vestments, which will be worn in liturgies permanently — forever, as Castelbajac put it — carry a sense of continuity with his past work. —Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024

The tradition remembers this journey in the way that liturgy remembers: by inviting the participants to enact the journey ourselves. —Eileen O’Brien, Austin American-Statesman, 2 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin liturgia, from Greek leitourgia public service, from Greek (Attic) leïton public building (from Greek laos — Attic leōs — people) + -ourgia -urgy

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

liturgy

noun

lit·​ur·​gy ˈlit-ər-jē 

plural liturgies

: a religious rite or body of rites

liturgical

lə-ˈtər-ji-kəl

li-

adjective