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Definition of "clericalism" [cler•ic•al•ism]

  • A policy of supporting the power and influence of the clergy in political or secular matters. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "clericalism" in a sentence
  • "There is nothing to fear for Ireland, either now or in the future, from what I may term clericalism in politics, whilst on the other hand it is earnestly to be hoped that nothing will ever happen to intrude unnecessarily the question or authority of religion in the domain of more mundane affairs."
  • "The lightest suspicion of what is known as clericalism, even when only a suspicion, based on anonymous and calumnious denunciation, is sufficient to condemn a functionary."
  • "This was great since a lot of Episcopal women priests' clothes just scream "clericalism" and "frump" I'll get hanged for saying this once my pseudonym loses it pseudonymity, but it's true."