broad church: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, journalistic, academic
Quick answer
What does “broad church” mean?
An organization, group, or movement that accepts a wide range of opinions and beliefs within it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An organization, group, or movement that accepts a wide range of opinions and beliefs within it.
A term describing institutions or groups that are inclusive of diverse viewpoints, often used in political and religious contexts to denote tolerance of internal differences.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in British English, especially in political discourse. In American English, similar concepts might be expressed with 'big tent'.
Connotations
In UK: often positive, suggesting pragmatic inclusivity. In US: may sound slightly British or ecclesiastical.
Frequency
High frequency in UK political journalism; moderate to low in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “broad church” in a Sentence
be + a + broad churchremain + a + broad churchmaintain + as + a + broad churchVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broad church” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The broad-church approach allowed for compromise.
- He favoured a broad-church coalition.
American English
- They took a broad-church stance on the issue.
- A broad-church philosophy guided their platform.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might describe a company with diverse strategic approaches.
Academic
Used in political science, sociology, and religious studies to analyze group dynamics.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation; appears in quality media discussions.
Technical
Term of art in political analysis and ecclesiastical studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broad church”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broad church”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broad church”
- Using as an adjective without 'a' (e.g., 'The party is broad church' instead of '...a broad church').
- Confusing with 'broad spectrum' which refers to range of things, not tolerance of opinions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while originating from ecclesiastical contexts, it is now predominantly used metaphorically for political parties, organisations, and movements that encompass diverse viewpoints.
'Broad church' is more common in British English and can imply a degree of principled inclusivity. 'Big tent' is its American counterpart, often with a stronger connotation of pragmatic electoral strategy.
Yes, often hyphenated as 'broad-church' when used attributively (e.g., 'a broad-church approach').
It is formal and primarily used in analytical, journalistic, or academic writing and speech. It is uncommon in casual conversation.
An organization, group, or movement that accepts a wide range of opinions and beliefs within it.
Broad church: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbrɔːd ˈtʃɜːtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbrɔːd ˈtʃɜːrtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cast the net wide”
- “all shades of opinion”
- “many stripes”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a very wide church building with many different doors for people with different beliefs to enter.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANIZATION IS A CHURCH; INCLUSIVENESS IS PHYSICAL WIDTH.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'broad church' MOST typically used?