What does defrocking mean?
Defrocking is the formal act of removing a member of the clergy — a priest, minister, pastor, or similar figure — from their sacred office, thereby stripping them of the authority to perform religious duties such as celebrating sacraments or leading congregations. The term derives from the idea of taking away the 'frock,' the distinctive garment that identifies someone as clergy, making it an unusually vivid piece of ecclesiastical vocabulary. While its primary sense is strictly religious, defrocking is also used figuratively and sometimes loosely to describe the expulsion of professionals from other fields, such as lawyers, doctors, or officials who have committed serious misconduct. The word carries strong connotations of disgrace and censure, as defrocking generally follows a formal inquiry into wrongdoing rather than a routine resignation. Journalists frequently favor it over technical alternatives like 'laicization' because it is immediately understood by general readers, making it a staple of reporting on institutional scandals.
nounThe formal act of removing a priest, minister, or other member of the clergy from their holy orders, depriving them of the right to exercise their ministry. By extension, the dismissal or expulsion of a person from a profession or position of standing.
- The formal removal of a member of the clergy from holy orders, barring them from ministerial duties.
- Figuratively, the dismissal or stripping of professional status from anyone in a respected occupation.
"The bishop announced the defrocking of the priest following the tribunal's findings."
"The Vatican confirmed the defrocking of the cardinal after years of investigation."
"Critics called for the defrocking of any lawyer found to have falsified evidence in the case."
Rarely used in the plural; the uncountable singular is standard even when referring to multiple cases.
"The archives record several defrockings during that turbulent period."
The word literally means stripping someone of their 'frock' — the garment that marks them as clergy — so defrocking is, quite literally, taking away the clothes that made the job.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of defrocking
The verb 'defrock' was formed by adding the prefix 'de-' (indicating removal) to 'frock,' the word for the long garment worn by members of the clergy, which itself came into Middle English from Old French 'froc.' The word 'frock' ultimately traces back to Germanic roots, and cognates appear in related forms across European languages. The noun 'defrocking' developed naturally from the verb as the standard way to name the act itself, and the parallel form 'unfrocking' has been used in the same sense since at least the early modern period.
Related word forms
How defrocking is actually used
The word carries a formal, often solemn register and typically appears in religious, legal, or journalistic contexts. It usually implies misconduct or serious breach of duty on the part of the person being defrocked. In Catholic usage, the more technical term 'laicization' is often preferred, while 'defrocking' is the common journalistic term across denominations.