congregationalism

US/ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃənəˌlɪzəm/UK/ˌkɒŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃənəˌlɪzəm/

noun

Any of several forms of church organization in which each congregation is responsible for its own government.

Opposite
curialism
OriginEnglish congregational ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? →
RareScrabble 23
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Meanings

congregationalism1

nouncongregationalism (countable and uncountable, plural congregationalisms)

plural congregationalisms

  1. countableuncountableAny of several forms of church organization in which each congregation is responsible for its own government.

    Antonyms: curialism

Congregationalism2

nounCongregationalism (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA system of self-governing Protestant churches

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAny of several forms of church organization in which each congregation is responsible for its own government.

Opposite
curialism

Origin

  1. Englishcongregation
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  4. Englishcongregational
  5. Englishcongregationalism

From congregational + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

congregationalism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/congregationalism

MLA

“congregationalism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/congregationalism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “congregationalism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/congregationalism.

Source: congregationalism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.