ecumenical

American  

[ek-yoo-men-i-kuhl, ee-kyoo-] / ˈɛk yʊˈmɛn ɪ kəl, ˈi kyʊ- /

Archaic, ecumenic;

adjective

1. general; universal.

2. pertaining to the whole Christian church.

3. promoting or fostering Christian unity throughout the world.

4. of or relating to a movement ecumenical movement, especially among Protestant groups since the 1800s, aimed at achieving universal Christian unity and church union through international interdenominational organizations that cooperate on matters of mutual concern.

5. interreligious or interdenominational.

   an ecumenical marriage.

6. including or containing a mixture of diverse elements or styles; mixed.

   an ecumenical meal of German, Italian, and Chinese dishes.

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ecumenical British  

/ ˌɛk-, ˌiːkjʊˈmɛnɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Christian Church throughout the world, esp with regard to its unity

2. 1. tending to promote unity among Churches

   2. of or relating to the international movement initiated among non-Catholic Churches in 1910 aimed at Christian unity: embodied, since 1937, in the World Council of Churches

3. rare universal; general; worldwide

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Other Word Forms

• ecumenically adverb
• nonecumenic adjective
• nonecumenical adjective
• nonoecumenic adjective
• unoecumenic adjective

Etymology

Origin of ecumenical

1835–45; < Late Latin oecumenicus belonging to the whole inhabited world (< Greek oikoumenikós, equivalent to oikoumen- (stem of passive present participle of oikeîn to inhabit) + -ikos -ic ) + -al ¹

Explanation

The adjective ecumenical refers to something universal, or something that has a wide, general application. You might refer to a wide assortment of ethnic foods served together as being ecumenical, and you'd be technically correct, as the word does mean something general and worldwide. But the term is most widely connected with religious unity, specifically Christianity. The original Greek root word, oikos, means "house," and that grew into the word oikoumenikós, which means "the entire world." Today it most often refers to bringing people of diverse Christian religions together; however, an ecumenical service might bring Christians, Jews, and Muslims together under one roof.

Example Sentences

Then he travelled to Iznik for an ecumenical celebration marking 1,700 years since the First Council of Nicaea, one of the early Church's most important gatherings.

From Barron's • Nov. 30, 2025

The town’s dominant monument is Little Hagia Sophia, a Byzantine church that in the eighth century hosted the last ecumenical council recognized by both the Eastern and Western churches.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

As well as meeting the Pope, the King will attend an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2025

In 1431, the ecumenical Council of Basel ordered the deans and rectors of churches to expel "frivolities" and "profane abuses" from holy buildings, but implicitly allowed them to take place in the squares outside.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2024

The minister, who took his ecumenical and—some felt—slightly impersonal remarks from Saint Paul’s sermon on Love from First Corinthians, talked for about half an hour.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

• comprehensive