catholicity

American  

[kath-uh-lis-i-tee] / ˌkæθ əˈlɪs ɪ ti /

noun

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

2. universality; general inclusiveness.

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

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catholicity ¹ British  

/ ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. a wide range of interests, tastes, etc; liberality

2. universality; comprehensiveness

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Catholicity ² British  

/ ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the beliefs, etc, of the Catholic Church

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Other Word Forms

• noncatholicity noun
• uncatholicity noun

Etymology

Origin of catholicity

First recorded in 1820–30; catholic + -ity

Example Sentences

First: The 20th century’s bright lines between photographic genres, which made Avedon so anxious and led critics to dismiss all his imagery as one big Vogue shoot, had dissolved into the 21st century’s low-drama catholicity.

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2023

For visitors returning after five months, the catholicity of these galleries will be a treat.

From New York Times • Aug. 27, 2020

It would be hard to top the catholicity of discovery provided by this eclectic collection of scientists.

From Scientific American • Jun. 21, 2013

In 1934 Jack Kapp founded Decca, and it was not long before his musical catholicity began to pay off.

From Time Magazine Archive

In fact, a hyenas catholicity of taste is so indiscriminate it nearly forces admiration.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel