Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To strip of priestly privileges and functions.
  • transitive verb To deprive of the right to practice a profession.
  • transitive verb To deprive of an honorary position.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Same as unfrock.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To divest of the frock, i. e. to deprive (a priest, minister, etc.) of official ecclesiastical authority; -- of church officials.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb literally to divest of a frock
  • verb figuratively to formally remove the rights and authority of a member of the clergy.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb divest of the frock; of church officials

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

de- + frock 'vestment'

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word defrock.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • (v): Literally, to remove the frock or vestments of church officials, and thus their authority.

    December 30, 2008