Catholicism

American  

[kuh-thol-uh-siz-uhm] / kəˈθɒl əˌsɪz əm /

noun

1. the faith, system, and practice of the Catholic Church, especially the Roman Catholic Church.

2. (lowercase) catholicity.

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Catholicism British  

/ kəˈθɒlɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. short for Roman Catholicism

2. the beliefs, practices, etc, of any Catholic Church

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Catholicism Cultural  

1. The beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

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Other Word Forms

• anti-Catholicism noun
• pro-Catholicism noun

Etymology

Origin of Catholicism

First recorded in 1600–10; Catholic + -ism

Example Sentences

It is the third largest Christian denomination after Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox Church, giving its leaders a huge platform when speaking about issues such as climate change, human rights, or efforts for global peace.

From BBC

Catholicism is the state religion, although it is no longer observed as strictly as in the past.

From Barron's

This affair with Rodin, who was 35 years her senior, ended before World War One, and she channelled some of her passion to the spiritual, embracing Catholicism and being received into the church.

From BBC

Zoomers are converting in sharply increasing numbers to Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam.

From The Wall Street Journal

The vice president converted to Catholicism as an adult.

From The Wall Street Journal