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 pope’s parents — Louis Prevost, a school administrator who died in 1997, and Mildred, a librarian who died in 1990 — owned and lived in the brick house for decades. —Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2025

Located in the Apostolic Palace, the pope’s official residence, the rooms were painted by the Renaissance master and his students in the early 1500s. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2025

Cardinal electors from 70 countries were sequestered from the outside world until a new pope is chosen. —Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

The visit came amid disagreements between the pope and U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. —Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 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