# encyclical

> English word · Noun · IPA /ɛnˈsɪklɪkəl/ · frequency rank #57,370

## Definitions
1. A papal letter, intended for general circulation in the Catholic Church.

## Etymology
From Late Latin encyclicus + -al, from Ancient Greek ἐγκύκλιος (enkúklios, “circular, general”), from ἐν- (en-) + κύκλος (kúklos, “circle”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/encyclical