Clericism

/ˈklɛrɪsɪzəm/ noun

Definition

The principles, practices, or influence of the clergy; clericalism.

Etymology

From clerical plus -ism (from Greek -ismos). This term is a less common variant or synonym for clericalism in describing clergy influence on society and politics.

Kelly Says

The existence of both 'clericalism' and 'clericism' shows how English sometimes develops multiple words for the same concept—linguists call this 'synonymy,' and it often reflects different regional or historical preferences in usage.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.