excommunication

[eks-kuh-myoo-ni-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of excommunicating.

2. the state of being excommunicated.

3. the ecclesiastical sentence by which a person is excommunicated.

Word History and Origins

Origin of excommunication¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Late Latin excommūnicātiōn- (stem of excommūnicātiō ). See excommunicate, -ion

Example Sentences

A generation later, New York governor Mario Cuomo found himself in similarly hot water over his Catholicism, but from a different direction, when he faced the threat of excommunication for his support for abortion rights.

From Salon

He had a weakness for women not his wife, which had led to his excommunication from the Mormon Church.

From Los Angeles Times

Stankorb explained that this implies excommunication, "a serious threat for women who have no job or independent income."

From Salon

Between the crazy Sprinter van rides, it has also broken new ground by exploring heavy subjects such as excommunication and religious trauma.

From Los Angeles Times

He made waves in 2019 when he rescinded a pair of controversial rules banning baptisms for the children of gay parents and branding same-sex couples as heretics who could face excommunication.

From Seattle Times