What does anticlerical mean?
Anticlerical describes opposition to the influence, power, or privileges of the clergy — that is, ordained religious officials such as priests and ministers — particularly when they hold sway over government, education, or public life. It can also function as a noun for a person who holds such views. The term is closely tied to political history: movements in France, Spain, Mexico, and elsewhere have been labeled anticlerical for restricting church property, secularizing schools, or curbing the Church's legal authority. Importantly, being anticlerical does not necessarily mean rejecting religion altogether; many anticlericals were believers who simply objected to institutional clerical power. The word is formal to neutral in register and appears chiefly in historical, political, and journalistic writing about church–state relations. Its derived noun, anticlericalism, refers to the broader ideology or movement. Understanding this term illuminates centuries of conflict between religious institutions and secular authority across Europe and the Americas.
Opposed to the influence, power, or privileges of the clergy, especially in political or public affairs.
"The republic's anticlerical reforms removed religious instruction from state schools."
Most frequently used in historical and political contexts concerning church–state conflict.
A person who opposes the influence or privileges of the clergy.
"Though raised Catholic, he became a vocal anticlerical in his later years."
Less common than the adjective form.
Used only for the noun sense referring to people holding anticlerical views.
"The legislature was dominated by anticlericals determined to curb the Church's power."
The French Third Republic was so anticlerical it banned nuns from teaching — proving you can fight a church without ever mentioning God.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anticlerical
Anticlerical derives from the prefix 'anti-' (Greek 'against') combined with 'clerical', which comes from Late Latin 'clericalis', relating to 'clerus' (clergy), ultimately from Greek 'klēros' meaning 'lot' or 'inheritance' — an allusion to the clergy's share in ecclesiastical administration. The word entered English in the nineteenth century, coinciding with European political struggles between secular governments and the Catholic Church. It shares its root with 'clergy', 'cleric', and 'ecclesiastic'.
Related word forms
How anticlerical is actually used
The word carries a political and historical charge, most often appearing in discussions of France, Spain, Mexico, Italy, and Latin America, where church–state conflict shaped national history. It describes opposition to clerical *power*, not necessarily hostility to religion itself, though in heated contexts the distinction is often blurred. The noun form is less common than the adjective; 'anticlericalism' names the broader stance or movement.
Easily confused with anticlerical
Clerical means relating to the clergy or to office work, whereas anticlerical means opposed to the clergy's influence or privileges.
Anticlerical targets the institutional power and privilege of clergy specifically, not religion or belief in general; an anticlerical person may still be religious.