Vatican

American  

[vat-i-kuhn] / ˈvæt ɪ kən /

noun

1. Also called Vatican Palace.  the chief residence of the popes in Vatican City, now also including a library, archives, art museum, apartments, and administrative offices.

2. the authority and government of the pope (distinguished from theQuirinal ).

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Vatican British  

/ ˈvætɪkən /

noun

1. 1. the palace of the popes in Rome and their principal residence there since 1377, which includes administrative offices, a library, museum, etc, and is attached to the basilica of St Peter's

   2. ( as modifier )

      the Vatican Council

2. 1. the authority of the Pope and the papal curia

   2. ( as modifier )

      a Vatican edict

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Etymology

Origin of Vatican

1545–55; < Latin vātīcānus ( mōns ) Vatican (hill)

Example Sentences

Pope Leo recently issued an encyclical on AI that built on the work last September of a panel of Nobel laureates, tech specialists and other luminaries the Vatican had assembled.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

Lee added that in a meeting at the Vatican this week he had invited Pope Leo for a visit next year, to attend World Youth Day in Seoul.

From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026

At the encyclical’s Vatican presentation, the pope’s invited speaker tried to keep this question open.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

Almost all exorcists, at the urging of the Vatican, keep their identities secret, their role in battling the occult known only to the other priests in their diocese.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

He knew Latin, too, often quoted the articles of Vatican I, and spent most of his time at St. Paul’s, where he had been the first catechist.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Related Words

• pontiff