papal

adjective

pa·​pal ˈpā-pəl How to pronounce papal (audio)
: of or relating to a pope or to the Roman Catholic Church
also : resembling a pope or that of a pope
papally adverb

Examples of papal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web After appealing to the papal nuncio and the patriarchate for help organizing an evacuation, a convoy left carrying around 30 residents — mostly families with children — escorted by the Lebanese military. Zoya Awky, NBC News, 2 Oct. 2024 Berger argued a papal conclave, where the College of Cardinals elects the next Pope behind closed doors, is as cutthroat as politics anywhere. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2024 The piazza’s first papal estate was built after Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, issued the Edict of Milan, a proclamation of religious tolerance, in 313. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 July 2024 Leaning into Chaumet’s Italian connection, which began in 1804 when Napoléon Bonaparte ordered a papal tiara for Pope Pius VII, the jeweler will exhibit the Bourbon-Parma tiara at the Rome boutique over the summer. Lily Templeton, WWD, 2 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for papal 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'papal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin papalis, from Late Latin papa

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of papal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near papal

Cite this Entry

“Papal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papal. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

papal

adjective
pa·​pal ˈpā-pəl How to pronounce papal (audio)
: of or relating to the pope or the papacy
papally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on papal

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