Kirk – Meaning and Usage in English from Cambridge Dictionary

Definition

Kirk refers to:

  1. A church building.
  2. The Church of Scotland.
  3. In general use, another word for “church.”

The word is primarily used in Scottish and Northern English contexts to describe either a specific church or the Church of Scotland as an institution.

“They were married in the old kirk at the edge of the village.”

Etymology

The term comes from Old Norse kirkja, sharing the same origin as the English word church. It entered Scots and Northern dialects through early contact with Norse settlers.

Usage Notes

Example Sentences


Author’s summary: The word “kirk” denotes a church, particularly within Scottish culture, and traces back to Old Norse roots shared with the term “church.”

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Cambridge Dictionary Cambridge Dictionary — 2025-11-25

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