Vatican

[ vat-i-kuhn ]
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noun
  1. Also called Vatican Palace. the chief residence of the popes in Vatican City, now also including a library, archives, art museum, apartments, and administrative offices.

  2. the authority and government of the pope (distinguished from the Quirinal).

Origin of Vatican

1
1545–55; <Latin vātīcānus (mōns) Vatican (hill)

Words Nearby Vatican

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How to use Vatican in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Vatican

Vatican

/ (ˈvætɪkən) /


noun
    • the palace of the popes in Rome and their principal residence there since 1377, which includes administrative offices, a library, museum, etc, and is attached to the basilica of St Peter's

    • (as modifier): the Vatican Council

    • the authority of the Pope and the papal curia

    • (as modifier): a Vatican edict

Origin of Vatican

1
C16: from Latin Vāticānus mons Vatican hill, on the western bank of the Tiber, of Etruscan origin

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