name
Common
Vatican
VA-tih-kuhn
Vatican (name) means the independent city-state in Rome that serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and residence of the Pope. Example: “Tourists lined up for hours to see the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican.”
name
1
The independent city-state in Rome that serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and residence of the Pope.
"Tourists lined up for hours to see the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican."
2
The papacy and Catholic Church administration as an institution, rather than the physical place.
"The Vatican issued a statement clarifying its position on the matter."
adj
1
Relating to the Vatican or its government.
"Vatican officials met with the visiting delegation."
How to use Vatican
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe Pope's city-state and church headquarters in Rome, or the church authority itself.
Common pairings
the Vatican said
Vatican City
Vatican officials
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Tourists lined up for hours to see the Sistine Chapel inside the _____.
Etymology
From Latin Vaticanus, the name of one of Rome's seven hills, where the Vatican was later built. The exact origin of the hill's name is unknown, though it was later folk-linked to a Latin verb for prophesying.
Synonyms
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holy see
Rhymes for Vatican
See all rhymes for Vatican →Frequently asked questions
What does “Vatican” mean?
The word “Vatican” means the independent city-state in Rome that serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and residence of the Pope. In plain terms, the Pope's city-state and church headquarters in Rome, or the church authority itself.
How do you pronounce “Vatican”?
“Vatican” is pronounced VA-tih-kuhn (/ˈvæ.tɪ.kən/ in IPA).
How do you use “Vatican” in a sentence?
Here is “Vatican” used in a sentence: “Tourists lined up for hours to see the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican.”
What part of speech is “Vatican”?
Depending on how it is used, “Vatican” can be a name and an adjective.
Where does the word “Vatican” come from?
The word “Vatican” comes from Latin. From Latin Vaticanus, the name of one of Rome's seven hills, where the Vatican was later built. The exact origin of the hill's name is unknown, though it was later folk-linked to a Latin verb for prophesying.
Is “Vatican” a common word?
“Vatican” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Vatican” have?
“Vatican” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the independent city-state in Rome that serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and residence of the Pope.
What is the difference between the Vatican and Rome?
The Vatican is an independent city-state located within the city of Rome, Italy, but it is not part of Italy politically. Rome is the capital of Italy, while the Vatican is its own sovereign territory serving as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
What is the difference between the Vatican and the Holy See?
The Vatican usually refers to the physical city-state in Rome, while the Holy See refers to the papacy and the Church's governing authority as an institution. In everyday usage, however, 'the Vatican' is often used loosely to mean both the place and the Church administration.
Is Vatican capitalized?
Yes, Vatican is capitalized because it is a proper noun referring to a specific place, the Roman Catholic Church as an institution, or the adjective describing something related to it, such as 'Vatican officials.'
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