noun

pontiff

PON-tihf

Pontiff (noun) means the Pope, as head of the Roman Catholic Church. Example: “The pontiff addressed crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.”

noun

The Pope, as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

"The pontiff addressed crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square."

More broadly, the chief leader or highest priest of any religion.

"The ancient city had its own pontiff overseeing temple rites."

How to use pontiff

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA formal word for the Pope, or any supreme religious leader.

Common pairings

the Roman pontiff address by the pontiff

pontiffs plural, Pontiffs plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ addressed crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.

From Middle French pontife, from Latin pontifex, originally a member of Rome's chief college of priests.

Origin: Latin

pope

pope papacy

What does “pontiff” mean?

The word “pontiff” means the Pope, as head of the Roman Catholic Church. In plain terms, a formal word for the Pope, or any supreme religious leader.

How do you pronounce “pontiff”?

“Pontiff” is pronounced PON-tihf (/ˈpɒntɪf/ in IPA).

How do you use “pontiff” in a sentence?

Here is “pontiff” used in a sentence: “The pontiff addressed crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.”

What part of speech is “pontiff”?

“Pontiff” is a noun.

Where does the word “pontiff” come from?

The word “pontiff” comes from Latin. From Middle French pontife, from Latin pontifex, originally a member of Rome's chief college of priests.

How many meanings does “pontiff” have?

“Pontiff” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the Pope, as head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Vocabulary lists that include pontiff:

pope papacy