pope

noun

ˈpōp 

1

often capitalized : a prelate who as bishop of Rome is the head of the Roman Catholic Church

2

: one that resembles a pope (as in authority)

3

a

: the Eastern Orthodox or Coptic patriarch of Alexandria

b

: a priest of an Eastern church

Examples of pope in a Sentence

The cardinals elected a new pope.

Recent Examples on the Web

The faithful were moved by the pope’s unexpected appearance. —Colleen Barry, Chicago Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025

The pope suffered a bout of double pneumonia that left him hospitalized for five weeks. —Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2025

According to the Associated Press, the pope began the outing by being pushed in a wheelchair while wearing nasal tubes, before he was brought to the front of the altar in the square. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025

On Sunday, the pope appeared to move his arms around with more ease. —Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English pāpa, from Late Latin papa, from Greek pappas, papas, title of bishops, literally, papa

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pope

• cope
• dope
• grope
• lope
• mope
• nope
• rope
• scope
• shope
• slope
• soap
• stope

Kids Definition

pope

noun

ˈpōp 

often capitalized

: the head of the Roman Catholic Church

Biographical Definition

Pope 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈpōp 

Alexander 1688–1744 English poet

Popian adjective

or less commonly Popean

ˈpō-pē-ən 

Pope

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

John 1822–1892 American general