church

Pluralchurches

Formschurches, churching, churched

1. 1
   Christian buildingnouncountable

   A building used for Christian worship and religious services.

   The wedding will be held at the church downtown.

   Medieval churches often took generations to build.

   Usagethe church or a church for the building; go to church, with no article, means attend a service.

2. 2
   congregationnouncountable

   A local body of Christians who share the same beliefs and worship together.

   The church gathered to support the grieving family.

   Rural churches often struggle to keep younger members.

   Similarcongregation, parish, flock

3. 3
   nouncountable

   A distinct denomination or organized branch within Christianity.

   The Anglican church traces its origins to the English Reformation.

   Several Protestant churches merged into a single denomination.

   Similardenomination, communion

4. 4
   servicenouncountable or uncountable

   Christian worship attended at a place of worship; the religious service itself.

   They were late for church because of the traffic.

   Church lasted nearly two hours on Easter Sunday.

   UsageNo article, like school or work: go to church, at church, after church. At the church points to the building.

   Similarservice, worship

5. 5
   religious powernoununcountable

   Organized religion regarded as an institution with political power and public influence.

   The church and the crown often clashed over authority in medieval Europe.

   Reformers demanded that the church stay out of national politics.

   UsageOften in church and state, especially separation of church and state.

   Similarclergy

   Note

   The institutional sense lives in a fixed pairing: church and state, usually after "separation of". The pairing is not limited to Christianity. Duncan Black MacDonald wrote in 1903 that in Muslim countries "Church and State are one", and a 1991 study speaks of "the Buddhist church" under Soviet-backed pressure. Capitals are optional. Older writing often capitalizes both words, while modern usage generally keeps them lowercase. Source

   Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

   • The institutional use of church is not restricted to Christianity. gutenberg.org
   • Duncan Black MacDonald wrote the quoted words in a work first published in 1903. gutenberg.org
   • The study containing the Buddhist church quotation was first published in 1991. api.pageplace.de
   • The study describes the Buddhist church under Soviet-backed pressure. api.pageplace.de
6. 6
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Christians collectively regarded as a single worldwide spiritual community.

   The church endured centuries of persecution before gaining acceptance.

   Theologians describe the church as the body of believers across all nations.

   SimilarChristendom

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