Catholic Church

American  

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

1. a visible society of baptized Christians professing the same faith under the authority of the invisible head (Christ) and the authority of the visible head (the pope and the bishops in communion with him).

---

Catholic Church British  

noun

1. short for Roman Catholic Church

2. any of several Churches claiming to have maintained continuity with the ancient and undivided Church

---

Catholic Church Cultural  

1. A common abbreviation for the name of the Roman Catholic Church.

---

Etymology

Origin of Catholic Church

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez responded that Cuba was willing to work with the Catholic Church, and was ready to hear the U.S. offer, of which it had no details as of yet.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026

In the seventh century, the Catholic Church enforced strict Lenten rules, prohibiting the consumption of all meat, dairy, and eggs throughout the fasting season.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

The symbolic moment was the first time a British monarch had prayed at a public service with the head of the Catholic Church since the Reformation.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Pope Leo, the first American-born man to lead the Catholic Church, has recently returned from a trip to Africa, where he visited four nations.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Of all the institutions in their lives, only the Catholic Church has seemed aware of the fact that my mother and father are thinkers—persons aware of the experience of their lives.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez