noun
Common
Catholic
KATH-lihk
Catholic (noun) means a member of the Roman Catholic Church or another Catholic denomination. Example: “She was raised Catholic and attends Mass every Sunday.”
noun
1
A member of the Roman Catholic Church or another Catholic denomination.
"The wife of the Prime Minister is a Catholic."
"She was raised Catholic and attends Mass every Sunday."
adj
1
Broad-ranging or universal in scope, especially in taste or interest (lowercase, non-religious use).
"He has catholic tastes in music, from jazz to death metal."
How to use Catholic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCapital-C Catholic refers to the Church; lowercase catholic means wide-ranging or all-embracing.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the lowercase adjective ("broad, universal") with the religious noun — capitalization changes the meaning.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like Catholic.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- Catholics
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was raised _____ and attends Mass every Sunday.
Etymology
From Greek katholikos, "universal," from kata ("according to") + holos ("whole"). The religious sense capitalizes the word; the "universal/broad" sense usually stays lowercase.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for Catholic
colic
frolic
anabolic
systolic
symbolic
apostolic
alcoholic
metabolic
parabolic
workaholic
melancholic
See all rhymes for Catholic →
Frequently asked questions
What does “Catholic” mean?
The word “Catholic” means a member of the Roman Catholic Church or another Catholic denomination. In plain terms, capital-C Catholic refers to the Church; lowercase catholic means wide-ranging or all-embracing.
How do you pronounce “Catholic”?
“Catholic” is pronounced KATH-lihk (/ˈkæθ(ə)lɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Catholic” in a sentence?
Here is “Catholic” used in a sentence: “She was raised Catholic and attends Mass every Sunday.”
What part of speech is “Catholic”?
Depending on how it is used, “Catholic” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Catholic” come from?
The word “Catholic” comes from Greek. From Greek katholikos, "universal," from kata ("according to") + holos ("whole"). The religious sense capitalizes the word; the "universal/broad" sense usually stays lowercase.
Is “Catholic” a common word?
“Catholic” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Catholic” have?
“Catholic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a member of the Roman Catholic Church or another Catholic denomination.
What is the difference between Catholic and Christian?
All Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholic. Christianity is the whole religion based on Jesus Christ; Catholicism is its largest branch, led by the Pope in Rome. Other branches include Protestant and Orthodox Christians. So Catholic is a specific type of Christian, not a separate religion.
What is the difference between Catholic and Roman Catholic?
In everyday speech the two are used interchangeably, since the Roman Catholic Church is by far the largest. Strictly, 'Catholic' can also include Eastern Catholic Churches that follow the Pope but keep their own traditions. So every Roman Catholic is Catholic, but the wider term covers a few other churches too.
What is the difference between Catholic and Protestant?
Both are Christian, but they split during the Reformation of the 1500s. Catholics recognise the authority of the Pope, honour saints, and hold seven sacraments. Protestants reject papal authority and emphasise the Bible as the main guide to faith. The two share core beliefs about Jesus but differ on church structure.
Does 'catholic' have a lowercase meaning?
Yes. Written with a small 'c,' catholic is an ordinary adjective meaning wide-ranging, universal, or all-embracing — someone with catholic tastes enjoys many different things. Capitalised, Catholic refers to the Church and its members. The two senses share a root meaning of 'universal' but are used quite differently today.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include Catholic:
