Ecumenism
/ˈiː.kjʊ.mə.nɪ.zəm/noun
The movement or principle promoting unity among Christian churches.
Did you know?Its core comes from Greek oikoumenē, “the inhabited world,” ultimately from the same root as eco-, economy, and ecology—words originally tied to a shared household or dwelling place.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
oikoumenē
“the inhabited world; the known human world”
Late Greek / Early Christian
Greek
oikoumenikos
“universal; pertaining to the whole inhabited world, especially the church”
Modern Latin
Latin
oecumenicus
“ecumenical; universal in scope”
19th Century
English
ecumenical
“pertaining to the whole Christian church; promoting unity among churches”
20th Century
English
ecumenism
“the principle or movement toward Christian unity”
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