What does invitatory mean?
Invitatory is a formal word with two closely related uses. As an adjective, it means relating to or serving as an invitation, and it often describes a gesture, note, message, or attitude that seeks to draw someone in. The noun is specialized: it denotes an introductory chant or prayer, most famously the chant that opens the Roman Catholic Mass. In ordinary English, “inviting” or “invitation” will usually sound more natural than “invitatory,” so the adjective is mainly encountered in formal, literary, or ceremonial writing. Nevertheless, it is useful because it pinpoints the social purpose of a gesture or text: not merely pleasant, but deliberately welcoming or persuasive. The liturgical noun adds another memorable layer, since the word is not just a synonym for “invitation” but the name of a traditional invocation that gathers worshippers before the main proceedings. Its formal sound and specialized history make it especially suited to descriptive prose and discussions of music and worship.
Relating to, expressing, or serving as an invitation.
"The host made an invitatory gesture toward the empty chair."
Formal and literary; “inviting” is more common in general usage.
An introductory chant or prayer, especially the chant that opens the Roman Catholic Mass.
"The invitatory was sung before the congregation proceeded."
Specialized liturgical and musical terminology; often capitalized when referring to the Roman Catholic Mass chant.
Rare and specialized; used when referring to more than one introductory chant or prayer.
"The two invitatories began their services with a call to worship."
“Invitatory” hides an invitation inside a word—and in the Mass, it literally opens the door.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does invitatory come from?
Invitatory was formed in English from the Latin adjective invitatorius, meaning “of or relating to inviting” or “serving as an invitation.” This Latin word was derived from invitare, “to invite.” English words such as invite, invitation, and invitee belong to the same Latin-derived family, while the noun use of invitatory developed in religious and musical contexts for an introductory invocation.
Related word forms
How invitatory is actually used
The adjective is formal and literary; “inviting” is much more common in ordinary speech. The noun belongs primarily to Christian liturgical and musical terminology and is often capitalized when referring to the Roman Catholic Mass chant.
Easily confused with invitatory
An invitation is normally the request or message itself, whereas invitatory is usually an adjective describing something that invites or a specialized noun for a ceremonial invocation.