papacy
Americannoun
plural
papacies-
the office, dignity, or jurisdiction of the pope.
-
the system of ecclesiastical government in which the pope is recognized as the supreme head.
-
the period during which a certain pope is in office.
-
the succession or line of the popes.
noun
-
the office or term of office of a pope
-
the system of government in the Roman Catholic Church that has the pope as its head
Other Word Forms
- antipapacy adjective
Etymology
Origin of papacy
1350–1400; Middle English papacie < Medieval Latin pāpātia. See pope, -acy
Explanation
Use the noun papacy when you're talking about the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the particular authority he holds. The papacy supports reducing poverty, but it does not support women becoming priests. The pope is the head of the Catholic Church in Rome, and his office or government is the papacy. You can use the word for official positions the church holds, or to talk about the history of a pope's term. For example, you might say, "The papacy of Pope Benedict XVI ended when he resigned." The root of papacy is the Latin papatia, "papal office," which comes from papa, or "pope."
Vocabulary lists containing papacy
Would E-cigarettes Lose the Smoker's Stigma if Called by Another Name? A Quick Current Events Vocab Quiz
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for April 20–April 26, 2025
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
This was a time tensions between the French monarchy and the papacy that lead to a seven-decade-long relocation of the papacy from Rome to the French-controlled Avignon.
From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026
The U.S. once had a complicated relationship with the papacy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026
The late Pope Francis, who died last year after leading the Roman Catholic Church for more than a decade, chose his name and modelled his papacy after the radical humility of Saint Francis.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026
The papacy did not formally confirm the order's existence until 1298.
From Science Daily • Feb. 2, 2026
He should never have agreed to raise to the papacy any cardinal he might have injured or who, upon becoming pope, might have cause to fear him.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
