excommunicate

/ˌekskəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌɛkskəmjˈunəkˌet] /ˌekskəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌɛkskəmjˈunəkˌet] /ˌek-skə-ˈmyü-nə-ˌkāt How to pronounce excommunicate (audio)/ (ame, mw)

excommunicate — verb

  • excommunicatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • excommunicateshe / she / it
  • excommunicatedpast simple
  • excommunicating-ing form

1. to formally remove someone from church membership, often in the Catholic traditi

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

to formally remove someone from church membership, often in the Catholic tradition, so the person can no longer receive communion or belong to the worshipping community.

例句

The bishop excommunicated Lucas after he publicly rejected core church teaching.

excommunicate somebody after open disobedience

In 1521, the pope excommunicated Martin Luther and his followers.

同義詞
  • expel

    broader; can be used for schools or organizations, not only churches

  • ostracize

    usually social rather than an official religious punishment

  • banish

    suggests forcing someone away from a place or community, not specifically from church membership

反義詞
  • readmit

    to allow someone back into church membership

  • reinstate

    formal return to a position or membership after removal

文法句型

excommunicate somebody

be excommunicated for [reason]

be excommunicated from [church community]

用法筆記

Used almost only for formal church punishment, not for ordinary schools, clubs, or workplaces. It often appears in the passive when the focus is on the punished person rather than the church authority.

常見錯誤

❌The school excommunicated two students for cheating.
✅The school expelled two students for cheating.
💡'excommunicate' is a church punishment, not a normal school penalty.
❌Her office excommunicated her after the argument.
✅Her office forced her out after the argument.
💡workplaces do not use 'excommunicate' for dismissal.

excommunicate — adjective