noun
Uncommon
monsignor
mon-SEE-nyuh
Monsignor (noun) means an honorary title given by the Pope to certain senior Roman Catholic priests. Example: “Monsignor Reilly has served the parish for thirty years.”
noun
1
An honorary title given by the Pope to certain senior Roman Catholic priests.
"He paid half the $850 monthly tuition, and the church monsignor covered the rest."
— Alexis Rehrmann, Her Parents Couldn’t Take Care of Her. This Home Could (2007)
"Monsignor Reilly has served the parish for thirty years."
"“Chances are if you had any efforts to modify it, you’d have parades of monsignors, ministers and rabbis trooping up to Capitol Hill,” said Professor Baker."
— Peter Applebome, A Court Decision Elbows a Village in Favor of Religious Rights (2007)
How to use monsignor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA respectful Catholic Church title given to certain distinguished priests.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- monsignors, monsignori
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ Reilly has served the parish for thirty years.
Etymology
From Italian monsignore, shaped by influence from the French monseigneur — a doublet of "monsieur" and "monseigneur."
Rhymes for monsignor
See all rhymes for monsignor →Frequently asked questions
What does “monsignor” mean?
The word “monsignor” means an honorary title given by the Pope to certain senior Roman Catholic priests. In plain terms, a respectful Catholic Church title given to certain distinguished priests.
How do you pronounce “monsignor”?
“Monsignor” is pronounced mon-SEE-nyuh (/mɑnˈsiː.njɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “monsignor” in a sentence?
Here is “monsignor” used in a sentence: “Monsignor Reilly has served the parish for thirty years.”
What part of speech is “monsignor”?
“Monsignor” is a noun.
Where does the word “monsignor” come from?
The word “monsignor” comes from French. From Italian monsignore, shaped by influence from the French monseigneur — a doublet of "monsieur" and "monseigneur.".
Is “monsignor” a common word?
“Monsignor” is an uncommon word in modern English.
