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View synonyms for pontiff

pontiff

[pon-tif]

noun

  1. any pontifex.

  2. any high or chief priest.

  3. Ecclesiastical.

    1. a bishop.

    2. the Roman Catholic pope, the Bishop of Rome.



pontiff

/ ˈpɒntɪf /

noun

  1. a former title of the pagan high priest at Rome, later used of popes and occasionally of other bishops, and now confined exclusively to the pope

“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

pontiff

  1. Another name for the pope. Pontiff comes from a Latin word, meaning “bridge builder,” that was used as a title for some of the priests of ancient Rome.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pontiff1

1600–10; earlier pontife < French, short for Latin pontifex pontifex
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Word History and Origins

Origin of pontiff1

C17: from French pontife, from Latin pontifex
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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.

"The agreement to begin the peace process has given a spark of hope in the Holy Land," the US-born pontiff said at the end of Sunday's Angelus prayer.

Read more on Barron's

Reiterating the words of his predecessor Pope Francis, the new pontiff lambasted critics who "ridicule those who speak of global warming".

Read more on BBC

A previous official visit to the Vatican was postponed earlier this year because of the poor health of the pontiff's predecessor, Pope Francis.

Read more on BBC

When Pope John Paul II wanted to warn President Reagan of the danger of nuclear weapons, Baltimore was one of four scientists the pontiff appointed to carry his message.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The American pontiff has also not commented on his predecessor's 2023 decree.

Read more on BBC

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