Defender of the Faith

noun

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 a title conferred on Henry VIII by Pope Leo X in 1521, later withdrawn but restored by Parliament and used ever since by English sovereigns.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

noun

1. 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 Latin termFidei Defensor

Word History and Origins

Origin of Defender of the Faith¹

Translation of New Latin Fidēī dēfēnsor

Example Sentences

Toasts were made in honor of the “Defender of the Faith,” His Royal Majesty King George.

From Washington Post