noun
Common
pope
pohp
Pope (noun) means the bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church. Example: “The pope addressed thousands of pilgrims in the square.”
noun
1
The bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church.
"Above all, the SED reformers cite the progress inherent in the emancipation of Westem Communist parties from the "red popes in the Kremlin.""
— Atlas World Press Review (1978)
"The pope addressed thousands of pilgrims in the square."
"The pope waved to the crowd from a balcony above the square."
"Crowds gathered to watch the new pope walk into the cathedral."
2
By extension, the head of certain other churches, such as the Coptic Orthodox Church.
"The Coptic pope led the Easter service in Cairo."
"Thousands of believers gathered to hear the Coptic pope speak at the cathedral."
"The Coptic pope blessed the new church and greeted the visiting guests."
How to use pope
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Common pairings
elect a pope
the pope's address
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Word forms
- Plural
- popes
- Third person singular
- popes
- Past tense
- poped
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The _____ addressed thousands of pilgrims in the square.
Etymology
From Old English pāpa, from Vulgar Latin papa, ultimately from Greek pápas, "father."
Synonyms
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pontiff
holy father
supreme pontiff
Bishop of Rome
Patriarch of Rome
Vicar of Christ
Bishop of Alexandria
Patriarch of Alexandria
Related words
Rhymes for pope
See all rhymes for pope →Frequently asked questions
What does “pope” mean?
The word “pope” means the bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church. In plain terms, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
How do you pronounce “pope”?
“Pope” is pronounced pohp (/poʊp/ in IPA).
How do you use “pope” in a sentence?
Here is “pope” used in a sentence: “The pope addressed thousands of pilgrims in the square.”
What is another word for “pope”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pope” include Bishop of Rome, Patriarch of Rome, Vicar of Christ, Bishop of Alexandria and Patriarch of Alexandria.
What part of speech is “pope”?
“Pope” is a noun.
Where does the word “pope” come from?
The word “pope” comes from Vulgar Latin. From Old English pāpa, from Vulgar Latin papa, ultimately from Greek pápas, "father.".
Is “pope” a common word?
“Pope” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pope” have?
“Pope” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church.
What is the difference between the pope and a bishop?
A bishop is a senior member of the clergy who oversees a diocese. The pope is the bishop of Rome, and as bishop of Rome he is the head of the whole Roman Catholic Church. So the pope is a bishop, but one with authority over the entire church.
Should pope be capitalized?
Capitalize pope when it is used as a title directly before a name: Pope Francis. When it stands alone as an ordinary noun — "the pope visited Ireland" — most modern style guides lowercase it, though some publications, particularly religious ones, capitalize it in all uses.
Are there popes outside the Roman Catholic Church?
Yes. Although pope most often refers to the bishop of Rome, the title is also used for the heads of certain other churches, most notably the Coptic Orthodox Church, whose leader is the pope of Alexandria.
What is the difference between pope and pontiff?
Pontiff is another word for the pope, referring to the same office. It appears mainly in journalism and formal writing, often to avoid repeating the word pope: "the pontiff addressed the crowd."
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