Vatican

noun

Vat·​i·​can ˈva-ti-kən 

1

: the papal headquarters in Rome

2

: the papal government

Vatican adjective

Examples of Vatican in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pope Francis briefed on world, church matters on 24th consecutive day in hospital: Vatican On Sunday, Francis released a text of his Angelus address -- his weekly address -- thanking the doctors and nurses who have been caring for him in the hospital. —Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2025

The pope was resting Sunday morning after a quiet night, Vatican officials said. —Joe Hernandez, NPR, 9 Mar. 2025

The Argentine pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, has remained stable, with no fever and good oxygen levels in his blood for several days, according to a Vatican statement on Saturday. —William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025

The movie also calls attention to the important role of the colorfully uniformed Vatican Swiss Guard, which has been protecting the Pope and Vatican City since 1506. —Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin (mons) Vāticānus, hill on the west bank of the Tiber, the traditional site of the apostle Peter's tomb, on which a basilica was built in the 4th century

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Vatican

• the Vatican