adj
Uncommon
papal
PAY-puhl
Papal (adj) means relating to the pope or the office of the papacy. Example: “The papal visit drew huge crowds to the city square.”
adj
1
Relating to the pope or the office of the papacy.
"In both the 2005 and 2013 papal elections there were whispers circulating that back in 1976 Francis had failed to help the two priests in their hour of need."
— Peter Stanford, Pope Francis obituary (2025)
"The papal visit drew huge crowds to the city square."
How to use papal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes anything connected to the pope.
Common pairings
papal visit
papal decree
papal authority
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more papal
- Superlative
- most papal
Fill the gap
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The _____ visit drew huge crowds to the city square.
Etymology
From Old French papal and Medieval Latin pāpālis, from pāpa ("pope").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “papal” mean?
The word “papal” means relating to the pope or the office of the papacy. In plain terms, describes anything connected to the pope.
How do you pronounce “papal”?
“Papal” is pronounced PAY-puhl (/ˈpeɪpəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “papal” in a sentence?
Here is “papal” used in a sentence: “The papal visit drew huge crowds to the city square.”
What part of speech is “papal”?
“Papal” is an adjective.
Where does the word “papal” come from?
The word “papal” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French papal and Medieval Latin pāpālis, from pāpa ("pope").
Is “papal” a common word?
“Papal” is an uncommon word in modern English.
