Roman Catholic

American  

adjective

1. of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church.

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noun

1. a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Roman Catholic British  

adjective

1. of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church

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noun

1. a member of this Church

Etymology

Origin of Roman Catholic

First recorded in 1595–1605

Compare meaning

How does roman-catholic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Eastern Orthodox vs. Roman Catholic

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Roman Catholic

In Poland's 2021 census, 71 percent of the population identified as Roman Catholic, down from 88 percent 10 years earlier.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

On the other hand, at the local Roman Catholic church down the street from our house, the priest took a long look at my son and me, and immediately separated us.

From Salon ● Jun. 1, 2026

One graduate student, Patrick, is a devoted Roman Catholic, unquestioning in his faith.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

Last month, there was an international outcry after Israeli police prevented the top Roman Catholic leader in Jerusalem from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a private mass on Palm Sunday.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026

Both of his grandmothers were devout Roman Catholic.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French