antipope

[an-ti-pohp]

noun

1. a person who is elected or claims to be pope in opposition to another held to be canonically chosen.

antipope

/ ˈæntɪˌpəʊp /

noun

1. a rival pope elected in opposition to one who has been canonically chosen

Word History and Origins

Origin of antipope¹

1570–80; anti- + pope; replacing antipape < Medieval Latin antipāpa, modeled on Antichrīstus Antichrist

Example Sentences

His successor imprisoned him to prevent any antipope instillations, and he later died in jail.

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At one point John joined an untimely “crusade,” sailing to Flanders to fight the forces of the French antipope.

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Other splits have led to the rise of antipopes - other men who claim to be the pope and refuse to bow to Rome.

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In the 14th century, clashes between Catholic Church leaders resulted in the election at one point of competing antipopes in France and Italy.

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The oldest item in the show is a 12th-century parchment papal bull, signed by the reigning pope, Anastasius IV; three future popes; one future antipope; and one future saint.

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