anti-church
|an-ti-church|
🇺🇸
/ˈæntiˌtʃɜrtʃ/
🇬🇧
/ˈæntiˌtʃɜːtʃ/
against the church
Etymology
'anti-church' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti' meaning 'against', via Latin/Old French into English) combined with 'church' (from Old English 'cirice' derived from Greek 'kyriakon' meaning 'of the Lord').
'church' changed from Old English 'cirice' to Middle English 'chirche' and eventually became modern English 'church'; the combining prefix 'anti-' has been productive in English since the early modern period, forming compounds that express opposition (e.g. anti-war, anti-establishment), and 'anti-church' follows this pattern.
The components originally meant 'against' (anti-) and 'church' ('place/house of the Lord'); combined they have retained the straightforward meaning 'against the church', used to describe opposition to church institutions or authority.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person, group, or movement that is opposed to the church or to church authority; opposition directed at the institutional church.
The anti-church organized a series of protests against the diocese's policies.
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Adjective 1
opposed to the church or to organized religion; hostile to church institutions or doctrines.
His anti-church comments damaged his reputation in the parish.
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Last updated: 2025/10/19 23:57