unfrock

Remove from clergy

To unfrock is to strip a member of the clergy of their religious office and authority—to remove them from the priesthood or ministry.

The term evokes the literal removal of clerical vestments.

It applies almost exclusively to religious contexts: The bishop was unfrocked after the scandal.

Defrock means the same thing.

clergy

excommunicate

Expel from church membership

ordainConfer clerical authority
deposeRemove from authority
priesthoodOrdained religious office

ministry · cassock · vestments · collar · vows · bishop · priest · monk · nun · cleric

punishment

disgrace

Loss of honor

scandalDisgraceful public affair
dishonorLoss of respect
degradationDecline in condition

humiliation · discredit · infamy · stigma · disrepute · ignominy · shame · misconduct · abuse · violation

removal

strip

Narrow elongated piece

expelRemove forcibly from membership
oustRemove from position
dismissSend away or reject

remove · suspend · discharge · revoke · banish · dethrone · disbar · demote · terminate · invalidate

Opposites

clerical status

unfrockordain

Confer clerical authority

frock · consecrate · invest · induct · install

institutional appointment

unfrockappoint

Assign to office

reinstate · restore · employ · engage · install

Family

unfrocked, unfrocking

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Rated PG