catholic

[ kath-uh-lik, kath-lik ]

/ ˈkæθ ə lɪk, ˈkæθ lɪk /

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adjective

broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal.

universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all.

pertaining to the whole Christian body or church.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of catholic

1300–1350; Middle English <Latin catholicus<Greek katholikós general, equivalent to kathól(ou) universally (contraction of phrase katà hólou according to the whole; see cata-, holo-) + -ikos-ic

OTHER WORDS FROM catholic

ca·thol·i·cal·ly, ca·thol·ic·ly

[kuh-thol-ik-lee], /kəˈθɒl ɪk li/, adverbca·thol·i·cal·ness, cath·o·lic·ness, nounpseu·do·ca·thol·i·cal·ly, adverbsu·per·cath·o·lic, adjective

su·per·ca·thol·i·cal·ly, adverbun·cath·o·lic, adjective

Words nearby catholic

cathode-ray tube, cathodic, cathodic protection, cathodoluminescence, cat hole, catholic, Catholic Apostolic Church, catholicate, Catholic Church, Catholic Emancipation Act, Catholic Epistles

Other definitions for catholic (2 of 2)

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

OTHER WORDS FROM Catholic

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. 2023

How to use catholic in a sentence

Although she and her siblings were raised Catholic, she was active at Israel Metropolitan Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in the Petworth neighborhood, Bowser’s statement said.
Mercia Bowser, sister of D.C. mayor, dies of coronavirus at age 64|Julie Zauzmer|February 24, 2021|Washington Post
Strom was born blind in 1946 and grew up in a Catholic family that moved from Louisiana to Kentucky.
Pauline Anna Strom’s posthumous album cements her legacy as an electronic music visionary|Jonathan Williger|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
All-Protestant counties had literacy rates nearly 20 percentage points higher than all-Catholic counties.
Martin Luther Rewired Your Brain - Issue 96: Rewired|Joseph Henrich|February 17, 2021|Nautilus
Kelpinski’s ad in the Blade, among other things, mentioned he had a “Catholic background,” which he later learned caught Bartman’s attention.
Clinical psychologist, former teacher Roger Bartman dies at 77|Lou Chibbaro Jr.|February 12, 2021|Washington Blade

After getting degrees from Georgetown and Catholic universities, Anderson spent his career as a speech and language pathologist at Gallaudet University before working in a similar role for Montgomery County Public Schools for more than 20 years.
Frank Anderson, 87, cared passionately about feeding the homeless in D.C.|Dana Hedgpeth|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
After years at the head of a parochial school classroom, he could no longer distinguish one blond Irish Catholic kid from another.
Obama’s One Hand Clap With Castro|Doug McIntyre|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The family was English Catholic and Alfred, like his brother and sister, was raised in the faith, educated by Jesuits.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A quarter of a century later, the new head of the Roman Catholic Church claimed that those days had been consigned to history.
Pope’s Blistering Attack on ‘Haggard’ Europe|Nico Hines|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Laylah and her older sister, Destiny, attended the school affiliated with Our Lady of Good Hope Roman Catholic Church.
11 Children Shot in Milwaukee, One in Her Grandpa's Lap|Michael Daly|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hegazy, the daughter of an Egyptian-Muslim father and an Italian-Catholic mother, grew up in New York City.
Ebola, Israeli-Palestinian Reconciliation Panels Added to WITW Texas||October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Roman Catholic priesthood, to a man, would lend to it the influence of all its spiritual authority.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
Just a few priests ordained in the Roman Catholic Church have joined the schismatic cause.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
There were grades of rank among the priesthood; but not more so than in the Roman Catholic Church.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume I|John Lord
He would also abolish the oaths in that establishment, distinguishing Roman Catholic office-bearers from Protestants.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan
The Roman Catholic chapels, and the ways of access to them, were also treated as "public works."
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.III.|E. Farr and E. H. Nolan

British Dictionary definitions for catholic (1 of 2)

catholic

/ (ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk) /

adjective

universal; relating to all men; all-inclusive

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

Derived forms of catholic

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 catholic (2 of 2)

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

catholic

Origin of catholic

OTHER WORDS FROM catholic

Words nearby catholic

Other definitions for catholic (2 of 2)

Origin of Catholic

OTHER WORDS FROM Catholic

Words related to catholic

How to use catholic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for catholic (1 of 2)

Derived forms of catholic

Word Origin for catholic

British Dictionary definitions for catholic (2 of 2)