encyclical

C2 Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

US /ɛnˈsɪk.lɪ.kəl/ UK /enˈsɪk.lɪ.kəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #89160

Meanings

1

noun
an authoritative pastoral letter issued by the pope and circulated broadly within the Roman Catholic Church

The pope's encyclical addressed environmental responsibility and social justice.
2

adj
formal: intended for general or wide circulation

The bishop sent an encyclical letter to every parish in the region.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an authoritative pastoral... papal letterencyclical letter

2 adj · formal: intended for... circularwidely distributed

Opposites

private restricted

Word family

Forms encyclicals

Related forms pope papalCatholic Churchcircular letter

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

encyclical letter
a letter from the pope circulated to Catholic bishops

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Late Latin encyclicus, from Greek enkyklios, 'circular or general,' based on kyklos, 'circle.' An encyclical was literally a letter sent around for broad circulation; the noun became especially associated with papal teaching documents.

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style General Vocabulary

External links

# encyclical

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ɛnˈsɪk.lɪ.kəl/
**IPA (UK):** /enˈsɪk.lɪ.kəl/
**Frequency rank:** 89160

## Meanings
1. an authoritative pastoral letter issued by the pope and circulated broadly within the Roman Catholic Church
2. formal: intended for general or wide circulation

## Examples
- The pope's encyclical addressed environmental responsibility and social justice.
- The bishop sent an encyclical letter to every parish in the region.

## Synonyms
- papal letter
- encyclical letter
- circular

## Antonyms
- private
- restricted

## Related Forms
- pope
- papal
- Catholic Church
- circular letter

## Etymology
From Late Latin encyclicus, from Greek enkyklios, 'circular or general,' based on kyklos, 'circle.' An encyclical was literally a letter sent around for broad circulation; the noun became especially associated with papal teaching documents.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style
- General Vocabulary

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