simony: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, academic, theological
Quick answer
What does “simony” mean?
The buying or selling of ecclesiastical offices or privileges.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The buying or selling of ecclesiastical offices or privileges.
Any corrupt practice involving the exchange of spiritual benefits for material gain, often extended metaphorically to similar abuses in other contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; the term is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Both carry negative connotations of corruption and spiritual misconduct.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both British and American English, mostly confined to specialized discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “simony” in a Sentence
be accused of simonycommit simonycondemn simonyfound guilty of simonyVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; not applicable in standard business contexts.
Academic
Common in theological, historical, and religious studies discussions.
Everyday
Very rare; mostly encountered in formal or educated discourse.
Technical
Used in canon law and church history to describe specific offenses.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “simony”
- Misspelling as 'simoney' or 'simonie'.
- Mispronunciation with short 'i' as /ˈsɪməni/ instead of /ˈsaɪməni/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originates from Simon Magus, a figure in the Acts of the Apostles who attempted to purchase the power of the Holy Spirit.
While rare, simony can still occur in some religious contexts, but it is generally condemned and prohibited by many churches and legal systems.
Simony specifically involves spiritual or ecclesiastical matters, such as church offices or sacraments, whereas bribery is a broader term for corrupt exchanges in any context.
Primarily no; it is almost exclusively used in religious or historical discussions, though it can be metaphorically extended to describe similar corrupt practices in other fields.
The buying or selling of ecclesiastical offices or privileges.
Simony is usually formal, academic, theological in register.
Simony: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪməni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaɪməni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember Simon Magus from the Bible who tried to buy holy power; simony is like that—buying or selling spiritual things.
Conceptual Metaphor
Spiritual corruption as a commercial transaction.
Practice
Quiz
What does simony refer to?