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

An honorary title given by the Pope to certain senior Roman Catholic priests.

"Monsignor Reilly has served the parish for thirty years."

How to use monsignor

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA respectful Catholic Church title given to certain distinguished priests.

Easily confused with

monseigneur → monsieur →

Word forms

monsignors plural, monsignori plural

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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."

Origin: French

Rhymes for monsignor

consignor

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.