gallicanism: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “gallicanism” mean?
A historical movement within the Catholic Church in France that sought to restrict papal authority and increase the power of the French monarch and national church.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical movement within the Catholic Church in France that sought to restrict papal authority and increase the power of the French monarch and national church.
More broadly, any doctrine or movement advocating for national or regional autonomy within a larger religious organization, particularly the Catholic Church.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally historical and academic in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral to slightly negative when viewed from a pro-papal (Ultramontane) perspective.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday language in both regions. Appears primarily in scholarly texts on European history.
Grammar
How to Use “gallicanism” in a Sentence
Gallicanism + verb (flourished, declined, persisted)advocate for/promote/support Gallicanismoppose/reject/condemn GallicanismVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gallicanism” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Gallican articles outlined the king's authority.
- Gallican tendencies were strong in the French clergy.
American English
- The Gallican Articles outlined the king's authority.
- Gallican tendencies were strong among the French clergy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, theological, and political science papers discussing church-state relations in early modern Europe.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
A precise term in ecclesiastical history and historical theology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gallicanism”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gallicanism”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gallicanism”
- Misspelling as 'Galicanism' (one 'l') or 'Gallicianism'.
- Confusing it with the unrelated term 'Gallicism' (a French loanword).
- Using it to describe modern French secularism (laïcité), which is a different concept.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, as a formal political doctrine, it largely ended with the French Revolution and the 1801 Concordat. However, its spirit influences some ideas of national church autonomy.
Ultramontanism, which advocates for strong, centralized papal authority over national churches.
While the term specifically refers to France, similar movements existed elsewhere, such as Febronianism in Germany and Josephinism in Austria.
They were the traditional privileges and customs of the French Catholic Church, often cited by Gallicans to justify independence from papal decrees.
A historical movement within the Catholic Church in France that sought to restrict papal authority and increase the power of the French monarch and national church.
Gallicanism is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Gallicanism: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡælɪkənɪz(ə)m/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡælɪkəˌnɪzəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GALLIC' (referring to France) + 'ISM' (a doctrine). It's the French doctrine for a French-run church.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CHURCH IS A STATE (with its own internal sovereignty vs. foreign/papal authority).
Practice
Quiz
Gallicanism is most closely associated with which country?