catholicity

[kath-uh-lis-i-tee]

noun

broad-mindedness or liberality, as of tastes, interests, or views.

universality; general inclusiveness.

(initial capital letter) the Roman Catholic Church, or its doctrines and usages.

RELATED WORDS

Catholicism, Romanism, papistry, popery

Nearby words

Origin of catholicity

First recorded in 1820–30; catholic + -ity

Related formsnon·cath·o·lic·i·ty, nounun·cath·o·lic·i·ty, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for catholicity

My only consolation in the matter is his catholicity of taste, for he shows no preference, as a rule.
Gardens of the Caribbees, v. 1/2|Ida May Hill Starr
The catholicity of the Gospel was born out of its fluent and full life.
Ten Great Religions|James Freeman Clarke
Catholicity was placed under ban, the faithful pursued, and the dispersed missionaries put to death.
The Catholic World, Vol. X, October 1869|Various
But surely, we shall not be told, that this inclination to Catholicity, is owing to the want of scriptural knowledge in England?
Two Addresses|Nicholas Rigby

It was while at Florence that the whole current of Stensen's life was changed by his conversion to Catholicity.
Catholic Churchmen in Science|James J. Walsh

British Dictionary definitions for catholicity

catholicity

noun

a wide range of interests, tastes, etc; liberality

universality; comprehensiveness

Catholicity

noun

the beliefs, etc, of the 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

Word Origin and History for catholicity

catholicity

1830, "catholicism," from catholic + -ity. Meaning "quality of being inclusive or comprehensive" is by 1843.