Defender of the Faith

American

noun

a title conferred on Henry VIII by Pope Leo X in 1521, later withdrawn but restored by Parliament and used ever since by English sovereigns.

Defender of the Faith British

noun

Latin term: Fidei Defensor. the title conferred upon Henry VIII by Pope Leo X in 1521 in recognition of the King's pamphlet attacking Luther's doctrines and retained by subsequent monarchs of England

"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

Etymology

Origin of Defender of the Faith

Translation of New Latin Fidēī dēfēnsor

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I, Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, will be faithful and true, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, our Sovereign Lord, Defender of the Faith; and unto your heirs and successors according to law.

From BBC • May 5, 2023

He's talked in the past about not being the Head of State or the Defender of the Faith, but Defender of Faith.

From Salon • Dec. 8, 2022

The image is surrounded by a Latin inscription which translates as "King Charles III, by the Grace of God, Defender of the Faith".

From Reuters • Sep. 29, 2022

Charles will also inherit the title of Defender of the Faith, a role he once questioned in a television interview.

From Washington Times • Sep. 9, 2022

But to go a-yachting when you might help to crown the King of England, Emperor of India, Defender of the Faith...!

From My Little Sister by Robins, Elizabeth

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023