defrock
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Vatican can forcibly laicize priests, or defrock them, as a punishment for such crimes as clergy sexual abuse.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 19, 2022
The French Church in 2018 banned him from public ministry but did not defrock him.
From Reuters ● Feb. 18, 2022
The Vatican has been under pressure to defrock the cleric, but it has maintained he deserves a full and fair legal process.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2020
He resigned a few years later, before the church concluded proceedings to defrock him.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 4, 2019
Brennan said the reason the Vatican did not defrock Bransfield was that it would lose leverage.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 23, 2019
Father Clement Thibault, Babs’s priest-mentor since childhood, is defrocked for publicly supporting the strikers after the church hierarchy forbade him from taking sides; the priest then begins a separate campaign to expose ecclesiastical misbehavior.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
"I've been trying for years to have him defrocked and that is because he can only be defrocked either where he was ordained, which was in Thailand, or by the Vatican," Ms MacPherson said.
From BBC ● May 6, 2025
Baker remained in the ministry until 2000, when he was defrocked, church records show.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2024
Years ago Mike McCurry – during the Clinton administration – made a point of calling on a defrocked minister who always asked questions about Bigfoot and space aliens.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2024
One is the son of a defrocked snakehandling pastor who is currently serving a prison sentence.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
They’re defrocking the Mets down to their vagabond shoes that are longing to ... oh, forget it, one shouldn’t need to crib from a corny song to describe what is happening here.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2024
“It’s like the defrocking of the Wizard of Oz.”
From New York Times ● Jun. 16, 2023
After the Vatican investigation of Ricard, Pope Francis could discipline him either by sentencing him to a life of prayer and penitence in isolation or go as far as defrocking him.
From Reuters ● Nov. 11, 2022
For these offenders, the worst penalty the Vatican can impose is defrocking — essentially, making the priests laymen again.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 22, 2020
The church courts had characteristically punished with a fine or a penance, and at most defrocking, and never imposed a death penalty, even for murder.
From Our Legal Heritage by S. A. Reilly
Vocabulary lists containing defrock
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
2014 Vocabulary Video Contest (A-L)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Inquisitor's Tale
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
