Catholic

[kath-uh-lik, kath-lik]

adjective

of or relating to a Catholic church, especially the Roman Catholic Church.

Theology.

(among Roman Catholics) claiming to possess exclusively the notes or characteristics of the one, only, true, and universal church having unity, visibility, indefectibility, apostolic succession, universality, and sanctity: used in this sense, with these qualifications, only by the Church of Rome, as applicable only to itself and its adherents and to their faith and organization; often qualified, especially by those not acknowledging these claims, by prefixing the word Roman.
(among Anglo-Catholics) noting or pertaining to the conception of the church as the body representing the ancient undivided Christian witness, comprising all the orthodox churches that have kept the apostolic succession of bishops, and including the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Church of Sweden, the Old Catholic Church (in the Netherlands and elsewhere), etc.

pertaining to the Western Church.

noun

a member of a Catholic church, especially of the Roman Catholic Church.

Origin of Catholic

1300–50; Middle English; special uses of catholic

Related formsan·ti-Cath·o·lic, adjective, nounnon-Cath·o·lic, adjective, nounpro-Cath·o·lic, adjective, nounpseu·do-Cath·o·lic, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for anti-catholic

Historical Examples of anti-catholic

It was known that the King was strong in his anti-Catholic propensities.
A History of England, Period III.
Rev. J. Franck Bright
The question was taken up by Peel, hitherto an anti-Catholic.
London and the Kingdom - Volume III
Reginald R. Sharpe
At any moment of anti-Catholic excitement he might be arrested and clapped into prison.
English Travellers of the Renaissance
Clare Howard
It developed strong religious prejudices, and was marked by the memorable anti-Catholic riots in Philadelphia.
The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier and Citizen
Simon Wolf
So far, however, they have failed to stir up an anti-Catholic movement in Peru.
The Friars in the Philippines
Ambrose Coleman

British Dictionary definitions for anti-catholic

anti-Catholic

adjective

opposed to the beliefs, practices, and adherents of the Roman Catholic Church

noun

someone opposed to the Roman Catholic Church and its adherentshe called him an anti-Catholic

Derived Formsanti-Catholicism, noun

catholic

adjective

universal; relating to all men; all-inclusive

comprehensive in interests, tastes, etc; broad-minded; liberal

Derived Formscatholically or catholicly (kəˈθɒlɪklɪ), adverb

Word Origin for catholic

C14: from Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos universal, from katholou in general, from kata- according to + holos whole

Catholic

adjective Christianity

denoting or relating to the entire body of Christians, esp to the Church before separation into the Greek or Eastern and Latin or Western Churches

denoting or relating to the Latin or Western Church after this separation

denoting or relating to the Roman Catholic Church

denoting or relating to any church, belief, etc, that claims continuity with or originates in the ancient undivided Church

noun

a member of any of the Churches regarded as Catholic, esp the Roman Catholic Church

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for anti-catholic

Catholic

"member of the Roman Catholic church," 1560s, from Catholic (adj.).

catholic

adj.

mid-14c., "of the doctrines of the ancient Church," literally "universally accepted," from French catholique, from Church Latin catholicus "universal, general," from Greek katholikos, from phrase kath' holou "on the whole, in general," from kata "about" + genitive of holos "whole" (see safe (adj.)). Applied to the Church in Rome c.1554, after the Reformation began. General sense of "of interest to all, universal" is from 1550s.