Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

excommunication

noun

/ˌɛks.kə.mjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Definition

The act of officially excluding someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church.

Examples

The church declared him guilty of heresy and imposed excommunication.
Being under excommunication means the individual can no longer partake in the Eucharist.
The community struggled with the consequences of excommunication on their outreach efforts.

Meaning

Excommunication is a formal censure that disallows an individual from being part of the community of believers due to serious offenses against the teachings of the church.