church
gb/t͡ʃˈɚt͡ʃ/ us/t͡ʃˈɚt͡ʃ/
A1
English
~ 500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Christian place of worship
A building where people go to pray and sing to God in the Christian religion.
Usage pattern:
to go to [church]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'church' (the building) with 'service' (the event). Example: 'I enjoyed the church' should be 'I enjoyed the service.'
Synonyms
chapel (A smaller or private place of Christian worship, often part of a larger building.)
Antonyms
mosque (A place of worship for Muslims, contrasting with a Christian church.)
Collocations
attend church
|go to church
|church service
|church building
|church members
Themes
religion
|architecture
|community
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They got married in a small stone church.
- The church was decorated with flowers for Easter.
- Tourists often visit the old church on the hill.
- The village has only one church, built in the 18th century.
Learner examples
- We go to church every Sunday.
- The church is near my house.
- There is a big church in the city.
- She works in the church office.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Christian religious institution
All the people and groups that follow the Christian religion.
Usage pattern:
the [Church] says [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'church' meaning 'organization' with 'church' meaning 'building'. Context usually clarifies which is intended.
Synonyms
denomination (A specific branch within Christianity, such as Baptist or Lutheran.)
Antonyms
state (In discussions about separation of church and state, 'state' is considered the opposite entity to 'church' as an institution.)
Collocations
Catholic Church
|Protestant Church
|Church leaders
|join the Church
Themes
religion
|society
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The Church has played an important role in history.
- Many people disagree with the official position of the Church.
- She decided to join the Catholic Church.
- The Church helped provide aid to refugees.
Learner examples
- The Church teaches love and kindness.
- He works for the Church.
- The Church helps poor people.
- She joined the Church last year.
Noun
A2
event
3
Christian religious service
A time when Christians meet to pray and sing together in a church building.
Usage pattern:
to attend [church]
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'church' in this sense always means Sunday morning, but it can occur on other days or times.
Synonyms
service (General term for a religious gathering, not limited to Christianity.)
Antonyms
secular event (An event with no religious purpose or content.)
Collocations
attend church
|church service
|after church
Themes
religion
|events
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We have church at 10 a.m. every Sunday.
- After church, we had lunch together.
- I haven't been to church in months.
- Church was especially moving today.
Learner examples
- We go to church on Sunday.
- Church starts at nine o'clock.
- After church we eat lunch.
- She sings at church every week.
Verb
informal
C1
action
4
Hold ceremony in church
To have a special Christian service for someone in a church.
Usage pattern:
to church [someone/something]
Synonyms
christen (Often used specifically for baptizing an infant; 'church' can be broader.)
Collocations
church a baby
|churched members
Themes
religion
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They churched the couple before their departure overseas.
- In some traditions, mothers are churched after childbirth.
- The community churched the new bell before using it.
Learner examples
- They churched the baby last week.
- The priest churched my friend yesterday.
- She was churched after her baby was born.
Grammar
Dictionary form
church
IPA
GB/t͡ʃˈɚt͡ʃ/
US/t͡ʃˈɚt͡ʃ/
Syllables & stress
church (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (church)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: church
- Plural: church, churches
Word family
Forms
churches
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unchurched
adjective
Expressions
go to church
1/ɡˈoʊ tə t͡ʃˈɚt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
Attend Christian worship service
To visit a church building for a Christian service.
Examples
- We go to church every Sunday morning.
- He hasn't gone to church since last Christmas.
in church
1/ˈɪn t͡ʃˈɚt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
Inside a church during service
To be inside a church building, usually for a service or event.
Examples
- Please turn off your phone while in church.
- She was sitting quietly in church when he arrived.
separation of church and state
1/sˌɛpɚˈeɪʃən əv t͡ʃˈɚt͡ʃ ˈænd stˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
Independence of government and religion
The idea that the government should not control religion and religion should not control the government.
Examples
- The constitution guarantees the separation of church and state.
- Debates about education often involve questions about the separation of church and state.
separation of church and state
2/sˌɛpɚˈeɪʃən əv t͡ʃˈɚt͡ʃ ˈænd stˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
keeping religion and government separate
The idea that government and religious groups should be independent and not control each other.
Examples
- Many people see the separation of church and state as essential to a free society.
- The new law has raised questions about the country’s separation of church and state.
- They argued that funding the religious school breaks the separation of church and state.