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

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pontiff¹

1600–10; earlier pontife < French, short for Latin pontifex pontifex

Word History and Origins

Origin of pontiff¹

C17: from French pontife, from Latin _pontifex

Example Sentences

King Charles and Pope Leo are to become the first British monarch and pontiff to pray together at a church service since the Reformation in the 16th Century.

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Charles, 76, last met Francis, which whom he also shared a passion for protecting the environment, in Rome in April despite having officially postponed the private audience due to the pontiff's poor health.

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The US pontiff urged the world to rouse itself from "the fatal lethargy in which we are immersed".

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"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.

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

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Related Words

• pope