noun Uncommon

papacy

PAY-puh-see

Papacy (noun) means the office and authority of the pope. Example: “He was elected to the papacy after a lengthy conclave.”

noun

The office and authority of the pope.

"He was elected to the papacy after a lengthy conclave."

The period during which a particular pope holds office.

"Several major reforms took place during his papacy."

How to use papacy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe role of the pope, or the span of time a specific pope serves.

papacies plural

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He was elected to the _____ after a lengthy conclave.

From Medieval Latin pāpātia, from Latin pāpa ("pope") + the suffix -tia.

Origin: Medieval Latin

pontificate

pontificate prattle pontiff

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What does “papacy” mean?

The word “papacy” means the office and authority of the pope. In plain terms, the role of the pope, or the span of time a specific pope serves.

How do you pronounce “papacy”?

“Papacy” is pronounced PAY-puh-see (/ˈpeɪ.pə.si/ in IPA).

How do you use “papacy” in a sentence?

Here is “papacy” used in a sentence: “He was elected to the papacy after a lengthy conclave.”

What part of speech is “papacy”?

“Papacy” is a noun.

Where does the word “papacy” come from?

The word “papacy” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin pāpātia, from Latin pāpa ("pope") + the suffix -tia.

Is “papacy” a common word?

“Papacy” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “papacy” have?

“Papacy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the office and authority of the pope.

pontificate prattle pontiff