# basilica

/bəˈsɪɫɪkə/ (US) · /bæzˈɪlɪkɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/basilica
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a large and important church building, often built with a long central hall and a curved end. It is also a special title given by the Pope to certain historic or holy churches.

For teachers: a large, oblong building with a double colonnade and a semicircular apse, originally used in ancient Rome as a court of law. In ecclesiastical contexts, it refers to a church granted special ceremonial privileges by the Pope.

## Examples

- The tourists visited the ancient basilica in the center of the city.
- St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City attracts millions of pilgrims and art lovers every year.
- The architect studied the transition from the Roman civic basilica to the early Christian cruciform church to understand how public spaces evolved into sacred ones.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a proper noun when referring to a specific building, such as St. Mark's Basilica.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.