Catholic

[ kath-uh-lik, kath-lik ]

/ ˈkæθ ə lɪk, ˈkæθ lɪk /

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 forms

an·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

The question was taken up by Peel, hitherto an anti-Catholic.
London and the Kingdom - Volume III|Reginald R. Sharpe
But, as we have seen on the authority of writers conspicuous for their anti-Catholic bigotry, they did infinitely more.
Catholic World, Vol. XIII, April to September, 1871|Various
At any moment of anti-Catholic excitement he might be arrested and clapped into prison.
English Travellers of the Renaissance|Clare Howard
The smaller northern powers, Scandinavia and Holland, were anti-Catholic of course.
Ave Roma Immortalis, Vol. 2|Francis Marion Crawford

"Lilibullero," the anti-Catholic street song, was sung by thousands of excited lips.
The Story Of Ireland|Emily Lawless

British Dictionary definitions for anti-catholic (1 of 3)

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 Forms

anti-Catholicism, noun

British Dictionary definitions for anti-catholic (2 of 3)

catholic

/ (ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk) /

adjective

universal; relating to all men; all-inclusive

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

Derived Forms

catholically 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

British Dictionary definitions for anti-catholic (3 of 3)

Catholic

/ (ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk) /

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