Catholicism

American  

[kuh-thol-uh-siz-uhm] / kəˈθɒl əˌsɪz əm /

noun

1. the faith, system, and practice of the Catholic Church, especially the Roman Catholic Church.

2. (lowercase) catholicity.

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Catholicism British  

/ kəˈθɒlɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. short for Roman Catholicism

2. the beliefs, practices, etc, of any Catholic Church

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Catholicism Cultural  

1. The beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

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Other Word Forms

• anti-Catholicism noun
• pro-Catholicism noun

Etymology

Origin of Catholicism

First recorded in 1600–10; Catholic + -ism

Example Sentences

Zoomers are converting in sharply increasing numbers to Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam.

From The Wall Street Journal

The vice president converted to Catholicism as an adult.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both authors had an agenda, Mr. Restall contends: to ensure the flourishing of the Columbus dynasty and the triumph of Catholicism.

From The Wall Street Journal

An unconventional and independent member of the Royal Family, the duchess was the first royal in almost three centuries to convert to Catholicism.

From BBC

Religious scholars say the tradition of Guadalupe, which mixes Indigenous beliefs with Christian ones, helped solidify Catholicism’s dominance in Mexico.

From Los Angeles Times