Gallicanism
|gal-li-can-ism|
/ˈɡælɪkənɪzəm/
national church independence from papal authority
Etymology
'Gallicanism' originates from French, specifically the word 'gallicanisme', which itself comes from Medieval Latin 'Gallicanus' (meaning 'of Gaul' or 'French').
'Gallicanism' developed from Medieval Latin 'Gallicanus' into French 'gallican' and 'gallicanisme' and was adopted into English usage by reference to the French ecclesiastical movement, especially in the 17th–18th centuries.
Initially it meant 'pertaining to Gaul or France'; over time it came to denote a specific ecclesiastical and political doctrine favoring national church autonomy from papal authority.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a doctrine or movement within the Roman Catholic Church, especially in France, asserting the relative independence of a national church and civil authority from the pope's direct control.
Gallicanism limited papal interference in French ecclesiastical affairs during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
the historical policy or position in France that favored the authority of the monarchy and local clergy over centralized papal authority in ecclesiastical governance.
As a political principle, Gallicanism often aligned with the interests of the French crown.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/12 23:48