communicant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, religious, technical, literary (archaic).
Quick answer
What does “communicant” mean?
A person who receives Holy Communion, the Christian sacrament of bread and wine.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who receives Holy Communion, the Christian sacrament of bread and wine.
1. A person who imparts or communicates information. 2. (Archaic) A person who shares in, or is party to, something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core religious meaning. The archaic/literary senses may be slightly more recognized in British literary contexts.
Connotations
Strongly associated with formal Christian practice in both regions.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse but stable within religious contexts. Higher frequency in texts/speech related to Anglicanism, Catholicism, and other liturgical traditions.
Grammar
How to Use “communicant” in a Sentence
communicant of [a church/denomination]communicant in [the Anglican Church]become a communicantVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “communicant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No verb form in standard use for 'communicant']
American English
- [No verb form in standard use for 'communicant']
adverb
British English
- [No adverb form in standard use for 'communicant']
American English
- [No adverb form in standard use for 'communicant']
adjective
British English
- The communicant members of the parish gathered for the Easter Vigil.
American English
- She achieved communicant status after completing the confirmation class.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in theological, religious studies, and historical contexts.
Everyday
Rare, except in conversations among practising Christians about church life.
Technical
A specific term in ecclesiology and canon law (e.g., 'communicant in good standing').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “communicant”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “communicant”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “communicant”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'communicator'.
- Misspelling as 'communicator'.
- Using it in secular contexts where 'participant' or 'member' is intended.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While they share a Latin root, 'communicant' almost exclusively refers to a participant in the religious sacrament of Communion. 'Communicator' refers to someone who conveys information.
Yes, but rarely. It can be used attributively (e.g., 'communicant members') to describe people who are qualified to receive Communion.
It has low frequency in general English but is a standard, common term within Christian religious communities and related writings.
A 'congregant' is simply a member of a congregation attending a service. A 'communicant' is specifically a member who is eligible to and does receive Holy Communion, implying a deeper level of commitment and initiation within many Christian traditions.
A person who receives Holy Communion, the Christian sacrament of bread and wine.
Communicant is usually formal, religious, technical, literary (archaic). in register.
Communicant: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈmjuːnɪkənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈmjunəkənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of COMMUNICANT as a person who is in COMMUNION with their church through the sacred ACT of Communion.
Conceptual Metaphor
PARTICIPATION IS RECEIVING (The communicant receives grace/community through the physical act.)
Practice
Quiz
In modern English, the word 'communicant' is MOST commonly associated with: