| English Dictionary |
ECUMENICAL
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Dictionary entry overview: What does ecumenical mean?
• ECUMENICAL (adjective)
The adjective ECUMENICAL has 2 senses:
1. concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions
2. of worldwide scope or applicability
Familiarity information: ECUMENICAL used as an adjective is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Concerned with promoting unity among churches or religions
Synonyms:
ecumenic; ecumenical; oecumenic; oecumenical
Context example:
the ecumenical movement
Similar:
nonsectarian; unsectarian (not restricted to one sect or school or party)
Derivation:
ecumenism ((Christianity) the doctrine of the ecumenical movement that promotes cooperation and better understanding among different religious denominations: aimed at universal Christian unity)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Of worldwide scope or applicability
Synonyms:
cosmopolitan; ecumenical; general; oecumenical; universal; world-wide; worldwide
Context example:
universal experience
Similar:
comprehensive (including all or everything)
Context examples
A religious group whose beliefs are based on the practices defined by the first seven ecumenical councils and whose members are located in or descended from the people of Eastern or Southeastern Europe.
(Eastern Orthodox Christian, NCI Thesaurus)
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