state church: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Historical, Political
Quick answer
What does “state church” mean?
The officially established Christian church of a nation, recognized by law and typically supported by the government.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The officially established Christian church of a nation, recognized by law and typically supported by the government.
Any religious institution that holds a special legal or constitutional status within a particular state, often involving public funding, representation in national ceremonies, and influence on certain laws or education. In broader historical and comparative contexts, it can refer to a religion's official integration into the political structure of a nation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more commonly used in British contexts due to the existence of the Church of England. In American discourse, it is primarily a historical/comparative term due to the constitutional separation of church and state.
Connotations
UK: Often refers specifically to the Church of England; can evoke debates about establishment vs. disestablishment. US: Typically used to describe foreign systems or historical precedents, carrying a negative connotation of mixing religion and government, contrary to American principles.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English and in academic/political texts globally. Lower frequency in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “state church” in a Sentence
[Country] has a state church.The state church of [Country] is...The relationship between the government and the state church...A movement to disestablish the state church gained momentum.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “state church” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The monarch is required to state church their adherence to Protestantism upon accession.
- Historians debate whether it was wise to state church the Anglican communion.
American English
- The founders explicitly chose not to state church any religion.
- No colony should have the power to state church a particular denomination.
adverb
British English
- [Not a standard adverbial form]
American English
- [Not a standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- The state-church relationship is undergoing review.
- He comes from a state-church background.
American English
- The state-church model is alien to the US Constitution.
- They studied European state-church systems.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in discussions about corporate ethics in countries with state churches, or historical economic patronage.
Academic
Common in history, political science, sociology of religion, and law. Used to classify types of church-state relations.
Everyday
Uncommon. Might appear in news discussions about royal events in the UK or debates about national identity.
Technical
Specific term in constitutional law, religious studies, and political theory denoting a particular model of church-state relations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “state church”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “state church”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “state church”
- Using 'state church' to refer to any large or influential church in a country. / Confusing it with 'state religion', which is a broader concept not necessarily tied to a single institutional church. / Capitalizing it incorrectly unless it's part of a proper name (e.g., the State Church of Sweden).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the Church of England is the state church (or established church) in England. The British monarch is its Supreme Governor.
No. The First Amendment to the US Constitution prohibits the establishment of a state church, ensuring a separation of church and state.
Historically, some regions have had multiple 'established' churches for different territories (e.g., in the UK, the Church of Scotland is the national church in Scotland). Typically, the term implies one primary, officially recognized institution per nation-state.
A state church exists within a state where the government is primarily secular but gives official status to one church. In a theocracy, religious leaders directly hold governmental power, and religious law is the foundation of the state's legal system.
The officially established Christian church of a nation, recognized by law and typically supported by the government.
State church is usually formal, academic, historical, political in register.
State church: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪt ˈtʃɜːtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪt ˈtʃɜrtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly used in idiomatic expressions]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a country's flag (STATE) merging with a church steeple (CHURCH) to form one official symbol.
Conceptual Metaphor
The state church is the GOVERNMENT'S SPIRITUAL ARM. / The state and church are IN A LEGAL MARRIAGE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a state church?