disfellowship: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Religious/Technical
Quick answer
What does “disfellowship” mean?
To expel or exclude someone from membership, especially from a religious congregation or organised body, typically as a disciplinary action.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To expel or exclude someone from membership, especially from a religious congregation or organised body, typically as a disciplinary action.
To cause a person to lose fellowship or friendly association; to sever communal ties, often resulting in social and spiritual ostracism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term is used almost exclusively in specific religious contexts (e.g., Jehovah's Witnesses, some Anabaptist traditions) in both regions.
Connotations
Identical strong connotations of formal religious censure and communal shunning.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general usage in both varieties. Its frequency is tied entirely to the practices of specific religious denominations that use the term formally.
Grammar
How to Use “disfellowship” in a Sentence
The congregation voted to disfellowship [the unrepentant elder].[The governing body] disfellowshipped [him] for [apostasy].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “disfellowship” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The elders may disfellowship any member who persistently refuses to abide by the community's standards.
- He was disfellowshipped for publicly contradicting the society's doctrines.
American English
- The judicial committee voted to disfellowship the individual based on the evidence.
- Members who are disfellowshipped are no longer considered part of the congregation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. 'Terminate membership' or 'expel' would be used.
Academic
Rare, except in theological or sociological studies of religious groups.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Unlikely to be encountered outside specific religious communities.
Technical
The primary context. A formal term within certain religious organisations' disciplinary procedures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “disfellowship”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “disfellowship”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “disfellowship”
- Using it as a synonym for a simple argument or falling out (e.g., 'We disfellowshipped after our fight').
- Confusing it with 'defellowship' (which is not a standard word).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar. 'Excommunicate' is the broader, more historical term used by many churches (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox). 'Disfellowship' is used by specific Protestant groups (e.g., Jehovah's Witnesses, some Mennonites) and often implies the additional practice of social shunning by members.
It is highly unusual and would sound jarringly formal or metaphorical. In a secular club or business, terms like 'expel', 'remove', or 'revoke membership' are standard.
The act is 'disfellowshipping'. The state of being expelled is 'disfellowshipment' (rare) or more commonly described as 'having been disfellowshipped'.
No. It is a very low-frequency word. An average English speaker might never encounter it unless they interact with the specific religious groups that use it as a formal term.
To expel or exclude someone from membership, especially from a religious congregation or organised body, typically as a disciplinary action.
Disfellowship is usually formal, religious/technical in register.
Disfellowship: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪsˈfɛlə(ʊ)ʃɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪsˈfɛləˌʃɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms. The term itself is highly technical.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIS- (apart, away) + FELLOWSHIP (friendly association). To be taken *away* from the *fellowship*.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNITY IS A BODY / MEMBERSHIP IS A BOND. Disfellowshipping is a surgical amputation or a severing of that bond.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'disfellowship' most accurately and commonly used?