holy office: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Ecclesiastical, Historical
Quick answer
What does “holy office” mean?
The ecclesiastical court or governing body of the Roman Catholic Church, historically known for its role in doctrinal oversight and the Inquisition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The ecclesiastical court or governing body of the Roman Catholic Church, historically known for its role in doctrinal oversight and the Inquisition; formally called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Any demanding, solemn, or quasi-religious duty or task, often performed with great seriousness or perceived as a sacred obligation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Usage is equally rare and specialized in both varieties.
Connotations
In both, the primary connotation is directly tied to the Roman Catholic Church. Figurative use is equally possible and carries the same potential for irony.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Slightly higher potential occurrence in historical, theological, or literary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “holy office” in a Sentence
[The] Holy Office + [verb e.g., investigated, declared, ruled][Subject] treat/treats + [task] + as a holy officeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “holy office” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Holy Office decree was published in 1965.
American English
- He has a Holy Office mentality about protocol.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. Potentially in extreme figurative irony: 'The quarterly audit is treated like a holy office in this department.'
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, or theological contexts to refer specifically to the institution.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Possible in figurative, humorous criticism: 'He performs the morning coffee ritual like it's a holy office.'
Technical
Specific term in Catholic canon law and Church history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “holy office”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “holy office”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “holy office”
- Using it to mean simply 'a priest's office' or 'a blessed place'. Confusing it with the Divine Office (the Liturgy of the Hours). Capitalization error: writing 'holy Office' instead of 'Holy Office' for the institution.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The institution was reformed and renamed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1965. This body still exists and fulfills a similar doctrinal role within the Vatican.
Yes, but it is always figurative and often ironic. It describes treating a mundane task or routine with the solemnity and rigid formality of a religious rite.
The Holy Office is the broader administrative body. The Roman Inquisition was a tribunal system operated by the Holy Office to suppress heresy, particularly from the 16th century onwards.
Yes, when referring specifically to the Roman Catholic institution. In figurative use, it is often not capitalised: 'He made a holy office of filing his reports.'
The ecclesiastical court or governing body of the Roman Catholic Church, historically known for its role in doctrinal oversight and the Inquisition.
Holy office is usually formal, ecclesiastical, historical in register.
Holy office: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊli ˈɒfɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊli ˈɑːfɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To make a holy office out of something (to treat a mundane task with excessive solemnity).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a very HOLY church OFFICE building where serious doctrinal decisions are made.
Conceptual Metaphor
SERIOUS ADMINISTRATION IS RELIGIOUS RITUAL.
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative, ironic sense, what does 'treating something as a holy office' imply?