1
: a building for public and especially Christian worship
2
: the clergy or officialdom of a religious body
the word church … is put for the persons that are ordained for the ministry of the Gospel, that is to say, the clergy—
J. Ayliffe
J. Ayliffe3
often capitalized
: a body or organization of religious believers: such as
a
: the whole body of Christians
the one church is the whole body gathered together from all ages—J. H. Newman
J. H. Newman
b
: denomination
the Presbyterian church
c
: congregation
they had appointed elders for them in every church—Acts 14:23 (Revised Standard Version)
Acts 14:23 (Revised Standard Version)4
: a public divine worship
goes to church every Sunday
5
: the clerical profession
considered the church as a possible career
1
: of or relating to a church
church government
2
chiefly British
: of or relating to the established church
churched; churching; churches
: to bring to church to receive one of its rites
Examples of church in a Sentence
Noun
This is the oldest church in town.
They would like to be married in a church.
I didn't see you at church last Sunday.
He is a member of the Catholic Church.
What church do you belong to?
the church's attitude toward divorce
the separation of church and state
Recent Examples on the WebTabitha Parent, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
He has always been involved in his church, his kids' school and his community.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
The prequel story follows an American woman who is sent to work at a church in Rome and discovers a sinister conspiracy to bring about the birth of the Antichrist.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
As a volunteer, Kidston ran video cameras for his church in Los Angeles, gave considerable time to nonprofits and was a champion for the disabled community.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Cathedrals are the mother church and ceremonial seat of a diocese.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Its 152 units — all subsidized — are grouped into seven, three-story buildings spread across 7.4 acres off Pennsylvania Avenue, packed between clinics and churches.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
The accusations According to the sheriff’s office, Chitty plied the 15-year-old girl with alcohol and molested her while she was passed out March 3 on a couch inside his church, First Baptist, 200 62nd St. in the Marathon.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
The Texas law specifically prohibits enforcement at locations including schools, hospitals and churches, and it's framed as targeting border security, not interior enforcement.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 2 Dec. 2020
Bateman lived in Colorado City among a patchwork of devout members of the polygamous FLDS, ex-church members and those who don't practice the beliefs.
—Felicia Fonseca, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2022
To be coarse about the main difference is that there are relatively few religious liberals within the working class, and proportionally fewer orthodox non-church-goers among the middle class.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2012
Conor Murray, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Aka, who grew up in Ivory Coast before attending Catholic schools in Paris and Provence, France, recalls going to church with his grandmother and admiring the priests’ cassocks.
—Nicole Demarco Dalya Benor Caitie Kelly Juan A. Ramírez Monica Mendal Janet Siroto, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Without cars, poor people can’t take children to sports practice, to choir, or to church.
—Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
After a beautiful introduction from Regina King asking Bassett to run for President, Bassett took the audience to church with her remarks.
—EW.com, 11 Jan. 2024
On Monday, King Charles and Queen Camilla led the royal family in their annual tradition of going to church on Christmas Day.
—Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 25 Dec. 2023
The motivational experience mirrors going to church—the catechistic phrases, the stand-and-testify choreography, the joy of gathering with fellow-believers.
—Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023
The dogs’ only time off was on Sundays when the owners would take them to church with the family.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 5 Oct. 2023
Hozier is going to continue taking fans to church into 2024.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
Noun
The dogs also participated in the ceremony, though the pair made sure to keep them outside the church and the Polo Bar.
—Tabitha Parent, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
He has always been involved in his church, his kids' school and his community.
—Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
The prequel story follows an American woman who is sent to work at a church in Rome and discovers a sinister conspiracy to bring about the birth of the Antichrist.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 7 Apr. 2024
As a volunteer, Kidston ran video cameras for his church in Los Angeles, gave considerable time to nonprofits and was a champion for the disabled community.
—Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Apr. 2024
Cathedrals are the mother church and ceremonial seat of a diocese.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Its 152 units — all subsidized — are grouped into seven, three-story buildings spread across 7.4 acres off Pennsylvania Avenue, packed between clinics and churches.
—Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
The accusations According to the sheriff’s office, Chitty plied the 15-year-old girl with alcohol and molested her while she was passed out March 3 on a couch inside his church, First Baptist, 200 62nd St. in the Marathon.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
The Texas law specifically prohibits enforcement at locations including schools, hospitals and churches, and it's framed as targeting border security, not interior enforcement.
—Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Jenny journeyed to a questionable mega-church compound that seemed extremely cult-like, only to discover Cody never made it there.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 2 Dec. 2020
Bateman lived in Colorado City among a patchwork of devout members of the polygamous FLDS, ex-church members and those who don't practice the beliefs.
—Felicia Fonseca, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2022
To be coarse about the main difference is that there are relatively few religious liberals within the working class, and proportionally fewer orthodox non-church-goers among the middle class.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2012
Verb
Before Kate announced her diagnosis, The Telegraph, citing a palace source, reported that Kate may walk with the royal family to church on Easter.
—Conor Murray, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Aka, who grew up in Ivory Coast before attending Catholic schools in Paris and Provence, France, recalls going to church with his grandmother and admiring the priests’ cassocks.
—Nicole Demarco Dalya Benor Caitie Kelly Juan A. Ramírez Monica Mendal Janet Siroto, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Without cars, poor people can’t take children to sports practice, to choir, or to church.
—Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
After a beautiful introduction from Regina King asking Bassett to run for President, Bassett took the audience to church with her remarks.
—EW.com, 11 Jan. 2024
On Monday, King Charles and Queen Camilla led the royal family in their annual tradition of going to church on Christmas Day.
—Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 25 Dec. 2023
The motivational experience mirrors going to church—the catechistic phrases, the stand-and-testify choreography, the joy of gathering with fellow-believers.
—Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2023
The dogs’ only time off was on Sundays when the owners would take them to church with the family.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 5 Oct. 2023
Hozier is going to continue taking fans to church into 2024.
—Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'church.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near church
Cite this Entry
“Church.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/church. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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