Home / Dictionary / Meaning of excommunication

Excommunication

/ˌɛkskəˌmjunəˈkeɪʃən/
C2
Listen pronunciation

(noun) The act of excommunicating, disfellowshipping or ejecting; especially an ecclesiastical censure whereby the person against whom it is pronounced is, for the time, cast out of the communication of the church; exclusion from fellowship in things spiritual.

Although communication and excommunication sound similar, they have absolutely nothing to do with one other.
Tom had to recant or face excommunication.
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the Middle Ages, ____ from the church was a severe punishment that isolated a person socially.

Expand Your Vocabulary with LexUp

Master English words using smart flashcards, play exciting word rounds, and compete with other learners worldwide.