# excommunication

/ˌɛkskəmˌjunəˈkeɪʃən/ (US) · /ɛkskəmjˌuːnɪkˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/excommunication
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

the act of being officially banned from a church or religious group. It usually means you are no longer allowed to take part in their services or receive their blessings.

For teachers: the formal exclusion of a member from a religious body, typically resulting in the loss of spiritual privileges. Often used in the context of the Catholic Church or other formal Christian denominations.

## Examples

- The priest warned him that his actions could lead to excommunication.
- After the scandal broke, the bishop faced the possibility of excommunication from the local diocese.
- Historical records show that excommunication was often used as a political tool to isolate dissenters and prevent them from gaining influence within the community.

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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.