pontiff

noun

pon·​tiff ˈpän-təf How to pronounce pontiff (audio)
1
2
: bishop
specifically, often capitalized : pope sense 1

Examples of pontiff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An Israeli government minister publicly denounced the pontiff in December for that suggestion. Reuters, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025 The White House said Biden spoke with the pontiff on Thursday and accepted his invitation to visit the Vatican next month, a little more than a week before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024 In Najaf, one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, the pontiff met with Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani for 45 minutes. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024 The designs are a variation on the pontiff’s robes, infused with Castelbajac’s signature aesthetic: bright, almost childlike hues that evoke optimism. Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pontiff 

Word History

Etymology

French pontif, from Latin pontific-, pontifex

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of pontiff was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near pontiff

Cite this Entry

“Pontiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pontiff. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

pontiff

noun
pon·​tiff ˈpänt-əf How to pronounce pontiff (audio)
: bishop sense 1
especially, often capitalized : pope
pontifical
pän-ˈtif-i-kəl
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on pontiff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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