Meanings
nounclericalism (usually uncountable, plural clericalisms)
plural clericalisms
- uncountableusuallyPolitical or secular power invested in members of the clergy.
Ireland in decades past saw an excess of clericalism and disregard for the laity.
1 more example
'I think I am an anti-clerical,' Father Brown would say with a faint smile; 'but there wouldn't be half so much clericalism if they would only leave things to the clerics.'
1926, G. K. Chesterton, The Resurrection of Father Brown
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
Translations
Catalan clericalisme
- clericalismesecular power invested in members of the clergy
Chinese Mandarin 教權主義 /教权主义
- 教權主義 /教权主义 (jiàoquán zhǔyì)secular power invested in members of the clergy
Dutch klerikalisme
- klerikalismesecular power invested in members of the clergy
French cléricalisme
- cléricalismesecular power invested in members of the clergy
Hungarian klerikalizmus
- klerikalizmussecular power invested in members of the clergy
Italian clericalismo
- clericalismosecular power invested in members of the clergy
Russian клерикализм
- клерикализм (klerikalizm)secular power invested in members of the clergy
Swedish klerikalism
- klerikalismsecular power invested in members of the clergy
Cite this entry
APA
clericalism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clericalism
MLA
“clericalism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clericalism. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clericalism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clericalism.
Source: clericalism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.