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

Onlookers learned that a new pope had been elected after white smoke rose from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel that afternoon. —Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 13 May 2025

Last Thursday, white smoke emerged from a chimney at the Sistine Chapel, signaling that cardinals had elected a new pope. —ArsTechnica, 12 May 2025

The heir to the throne, who attended the funeral in his father’s stead, won’t be pulling double duty by attending the official ceremony for the new pope, and his wife, Middleton won’t be attending either. —Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 12 May 2025

The 69-year-old Chicago native is the first American pope and is seen as a diplomat in the church. —David Brennan, ABC News, 12 May 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