1
: a building for public and especially Christian worship
2
: the clergy or officialdom of a religious body
the word church … is put for the persons that are ordained for the ministry of the Gospel, that is to say, the clergy—
J. Ayliffe
J. Ayliffe3
often capitalized
: a body or organization of religious believers: such as
a
: the whole body of Christians
the one church is the whole body gathered together from all ages—J. H. Newman
J. H. Newman
b
: denomination
the Presbyterian church
c
: congregation
they had appointed elders for them in every church—Acts 14:23 (Revised Standard Version)
Acts 14:23 (Revised Standard Version)4
: a public divine worship
goes to church every Sunday
5
: the clerical profession
considered the church as a possible career
1
: of or relating to a church
church government
2
chiefly British
: of or relating to the established church
churched; churching; churches
: to bring to church to receive one of its rites
Examples of church in a Sentence
Noun
This is the oldest church in town.
They would like to be married in a church.
I didn't see you at church last Sunday.
He is a member of the Catholic Church.
What church do you belong to?
the church's attitude toward divorce
the separation of church and state
Recent Examples on the Web
Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
Is your church or nonprofit holding a holiday cookie sale in 2024?
—Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 2 Dec. 2020
Bateman lived in Colorado City among a patchwork of devout members of the polygamous FLDS, ex-church members and those who don't practice the beliefs.
—Felicia Fonseca, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for church 
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Noun
Driving south from Bakersville into Asheville, nearly every church, grocery store, gas station, firehouse, and strip mall parking lot had been converted to some sort of supply distribution point or relief hub.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
Is your church or nonprofit holding a holiday cookie sale in 2024?
—Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Jenny journeyed to a questionable mega-church compound that seemed extremely cult-like, only to discover Cody never made it there.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 2 Dec. 2020
Bateman lived in Colorado City among a patchwork of devout members of the polygamous FLDS, ex-church members and those who don't practice the beliefs.
—Felicia Fonseca, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2022
See all Example Sentences for church
Dictionary Entries Near church
Cite this Entry
“Church.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/church. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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