Definitions

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

  • adjective Opposed to the influence of the church or the clergy in public life.

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

  • adjective Opposed to political influence of clerics.
  • noun One who opposes the political influence of clerics.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

anti- +‎ clerical

Support

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

Examples

  • The policy known as anticlerical, inaugurated by Gambetta in his speech at Romans, 18 September, 1878, containing the famous catchword

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 6: Fathers of the Church-Gregory XI 1840-1916 1913

  • Donovan also knew that Pius so far had refused to authorize priests to serve as chaplains with the northern Italian partisans; the pope thought the bands were infested with anticlerical communists and discounted their strength.

    Wild Bill Donovan Douglas Waller 2011

  • While the article in some ways specifically addresses the German situation - over here, the Holy Father's act of paternal mercy served as a pretext for an anticlerical outbreak which had not been seen since the earlier days of John Paul II's reign - it is still very much worth reading for a general Catholic public.

    Mosebach on Why the Pope Had to Do What He Did 2009

  • Web sites tied to the Revolutionary Guards have accused him of "voodoo and fortune-telling" for his messianic, anticlerical brand of Islam—no small charge in a theocracy.

    Troubled in Tehran 2011

  • Jeric ó , the more feverish of the pair, is also the wiser and tougher man, an anticlerical intellectual whose conversation is filled with philosophical word games.

    Intellectual Intrigue in Mexico City Alexander Theroux 2011

  • Donovan also knew that Pius so far had refused to authorize priests to serve as chaplains with the northern Italian partisans; the pope thought the bands were infested with anticlerical communists and discounted their strength.

    Wild Bill Donovan Douglas Waller 2011

  • These include a self-portrait called El Coronelazo and "The Devil in the Church," a painting with an anticlerical motif.

    The artist as activist: David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896–1974) 2008

  • Degollado performed similar duties at the Cathedral -- somewhat ironic for one who would later gain fame as a leading figure in the anticlerical movement whose goal was to clip the Church's wings.

    Fighting liberal: the stormy career of Santos Degollado 2008

  • As the era of sudden and violent armed movements, coups and counter-coups, religious fanaticism and anticlerical outrages faded into memory, Mexico entered the World War II period a nation seasoned and matured by some of the most wrenching growing pains ever witnessed in history.

    The Mexican Revolution - consolidation (1920–40) part 3 2008

  • But for most of the twentieth century, the government was heavily anticlerical.

    Mexico's Separation of Church and State Luke Goodrich 2010

Comments

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