To officially remove someone from their position as a priest or church official, usually because of wrongdoing.
From de- (removal) + frock (a long robe or garment worn by clergy). The word evolved from the practice of literally removing a priest's ceremonial robe as part of the dismissal process.
Defrock carries powerful historical weight—it was the ultimate punishment for priests, and the phrase 'defrocked priest' appears throughout modern scandals, showing how one ritual word captured centuries of religious authority.
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