Standard Lemma guide

sacerdotal

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌsæs.ə(ɹ)ˈdəʊ.təl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -əʊtəl

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of or relating to priests or a high religious order; priestly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: lifestyle, religion

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective

Meaning 2

associated with the priesthood or priests

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • priestly (or sacerdotal) vestments
  • hieratic gestures

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: priestly, hieratic, hieratical

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective

Meaning 3

of or relating to a belief in sacerdotalism

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • sacerdotal emphasis on the authority of priests

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English sacerdotale, from Old French sacerdotal, from Latin sacerdōtālis (“priestly”).

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: жречески (žrečeski) — of or relating to priests or a high religious order
  • French: sacerdotal — of or relating to priests or a high religious order
  • Ido: sacerdotala — of or relating to priests or a high religious order
  • Irish: sagartúil — of or relating to priests or a high religious order
  • Latin: sacerdōtālis — of or relating to priests or a high religious order
  • Portuguese: sacerdotal — of or relating to priests or a high religious order
  • Russian: свяще́ннический (svjaščénničeskij) — of or relating to priests or a high religious order