pontiff

American  

[pon-tif] / ˈpɒn tɪf /

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 British  

/ 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 Cultural  

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of pontiff

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

Example Sentences

The Midwestern pontiff brings a deeper understanding of American society and politics than any previous pope.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 70-year-old pontiff said the trip would allow him to "continue the discourse of dialogue and bridge-building between the Christian and the Muslim worlds".

From Barron's

The pontiff belongs to the Augustinian religious order and had previously called for interfaith dialogue in the North African country.

From BBC

The Vatican announced a series of international trips in the months ahead for the US pontiff, who was elected last year, including to Spain and Monaco.

From Barron's

Leo, the Catholic Church's first American pontiff, said it was "more urgent than ever to replace the logic of fear and mistrust with a shared ethic capable of guiding choices towards the common good".

From Barron's

Related Words

• pope