excommunication
noun/ˌɛkskəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən/
Frequency rank: #17,101 most common English word
Meaning
the official exclusion of someone from participation in the sacraments and services of the Christian Church.

Example sentence
The medieval church threatened sinners with excommunication if they refused to repent.
Synonyms & related words
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