clericalism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Proficient User - Very Low Frequency)Formal, Academic, Political, Historical, Critical
Quick answer
What does “clericalism” mean?
A policy or practice that gives undue power or influence to a religious clergy, especially in political or civil affairs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A policy or practice that gives undue power or influence to a religious clergy, especially in political or civil affairs.
Any system where a clerical class exercises excessive control or influence, sometimes extended metaphorically to any administration overly dominated by bureaucrats or a particular professional class.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage, though historical context may differ (e.g., more common in discussions of European Catholic countries, Latin America, or Iran).
Connotations
Universally negative, implying corruption of secular authority, theocracy, or antidemocratic influence.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, slightly more likely in academic/political texts in the US due to foreign policy discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “clericalism” in a Sentence
[Noun] fights/opposes clericalism.The [noun] was a product of rampant clericalism.Clericalism in [geographical/political entity]...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clericalism” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No direct verb. Related: 'to clericalise' is extremely rare.]
American English
- [No direct verb. One might 'clericalise' a system, but this is non-standard.]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb. 'Clericalistically' would be a nonce formation.]
American English
- [No standard adverb.]
adjective
British English
- The movement took a fiercely anti-clericalist stance.
American English
- They warned of clericalist tendencies within the new government.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in political science, history, sociology, and religious studies to analyse church-state relations.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be used only in highly informed political discussion.
Technical
A specific term in political philosophy and statecraft.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clericalism”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “clericalism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clericalism”
- Using it to mean 'being a clerk/office worker' (confusion with 'clerical' jobs).
- Using it positively.
- Misspelling as 'clerical-ism' (hyphen is not standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, though historically most associated with Catholicism, it can apply to any religion where a clerical class gains undue political power (e.g., in some Islamic states).
Not exactly. Theocracy is direct rule by religious leaders. Clericalism is the excessive *influence* of clergy within a state that may still have a secular government structure.
Rarely and metaphorically. It might be used to criticise excessive control by any bureaucratic or administrative class (e.g., 'corporate clericalism'), but this is not its primary meaning.
Secularism or laicism, which advocate for the separation of religious institutions from state affairs and public policy.
A policy or practice that gives undue power or influence to a religious clergy, especially in political or civil affairs.
Clericalism is usually formal, academic, political, historical, critical in register.
Clericalism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklerɪkəlɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklerɪkəlɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated. The word itself functions as a conceptual label.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CLERGY' + 'ISM' (a system or ideology). It's the 'ism' of giving too much power to the clergy.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELIGION AS A POLITICAL POWER / THE CHURCH AS A DOMINANT INSTITUTION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'clericalism'?