Word
liturgy
Phoneticslitur·gy
US/ˈɫɪtɝdʒi/
UK/lˈɪtɜːdʒi/
Definitions
01religious ritual
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Formal
n. the fixed set of words and actions used in a religious ceremony.
n. a prescribed body of rituals or ceremonies for public worship, especially in a Christian context.
“The church followed a traditional liturgy that had not changed for centuries.”
“The bishop emphasized that the beauty of the liturgy lies in its ability to connect modern believers with ancient traditions through shared prayer.”
Usage
Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to a specific tradition's set of rites.
02a worship service
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Formal
n. a formal religious service, especially in the Orthodox or Catholic church.
n. a specific instance of public worship or a formal service of the Eucharist.
“We attended the morning liturgy at the cathedral during our trip to Greece.”
“The Divine Liturgy was celebrated with great solemnity, featuring choral music that resonated throughout the vaulted nave.”
Usage
Commonly capitalized as 'Divine Liturgy' in Eastern Orthodox contexts.
03Ancient Greek public service
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Technical · Archaic
n. in Ancient Greece, a job or project that a rich person paid for to help the city.
n. a public office or duty which the richest citizens discharged at their own expense in ancient Greek states.
“The wealthy merchant funded the new warship as a liturgy for the city.”
“Historians note that the liturgy system allowed the Athenian state to fund festivals and naval expeditions without a direct income tax.”
Teaching tip
This sense is strictly historical and refers to civic duty rather than religious ritual.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Tensions came to a head in late 1824, when 47 male congregants petitioned leaders at their synagogue, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim , to change the liturgy.” Etymology
From Middle French liturgie, from Latin liturgia, from Ancient Greek λειτουργία (leitourgía), from λειτ- (leit-), from λαός (laós, “people”) + -ουργός (-ourgós), from ἔργον (érgon, “work”) (the public work of the people done on behalf of the people).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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