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.

---

Catholicism British  

/ kəˈθɒlɪˌsɪzəm /

noun

1. short for Roman Catholicism

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

---

Catholicism Cultural  

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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• pro-Catholicism
  noun
• anti-Catholicism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Catholicism

First recorded in 1600–10; Catholic + -ism

Example Sentences

But exorcists are an established part of Catholicism.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

Catholicism has played a central role in Spanish life for centuries, but traditional religious observance has declined for decades in line with a trend across Europe.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

In the years since, both have turned to Catholicism, which they say has helped them come to terms with the loss of Rachel.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

In diagnosing the problem, the wing of Latin Catholicism that both Francis and Leo represent saw the church’s historical links with elite power structures and oligarchical families as a key vulnerability.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Or, as cynical as it may sound, his possible acceptance of Catholicism may have been merely a theological chess game, a tactic and long-term strategy that he calculated might lead to eternal salvation.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady