excommunicate

1 of 2

verb

ex·​com·​mu·​ni·​cate ˌek-skə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce excommunicate (audio)
excommunicated; excommunicating; excommunicates
excommunicator noun

excommunicate

2 of 2

adjective

ex·​com·​mu·​ni·​cate ˌek-skə-ˈmyü-ni-kət How to pronounce excommunicate (audio)
: excluded from the rights of church membership : excommunicated
excommunicate noun

Examples of excommunicate 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.
Verb
In 2006, for instance, the Vatican under Pope Benedict XVI excommunicated Emmanuel Milingo, a Zambian archbishop, who married a South Korean woman in a ceremony inside the Unification Church of Sun Myung Moon, conducted unauthorized exorcisms and established a movement for married priests. Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 5 July 2024 In the interim, Solo physically excommunicated Jimmy Uso from The Bloodline six months ago and started his own version of the group with Jacob Fatu as his enforcer. Shaheem Reid, Variety, 8 Oct. 2024 Snuffer is a lawyer who lives in Utah and was excommunicated from the LDS Church in 2013 for apostasy. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 29 Sep. 2024 There, on the site where, in 2014, Pope Francis excommunicated all members of the Mob, Ciotti had to do something involving a bishop. D. T. Max, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for excommunicate 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Late Latin excommunicatus, past participle of excommunicare, from Latin ex- + Late Latin communicare to communicate

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1521, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of excommunicate was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near excommunicate

Cite this Entry

“Excommunicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excommunicate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

excommunicate

verb
ex·​com·​mu·​ni·​cate
ˌeks-kə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt
excommunicated; excommunicating
: to shut off officially from the rights of church membership
excommunication
-ˌmyü-nə-ˈkā-shən
noun
excommunicator
-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt-ər
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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