Vatican
Americannoun
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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.
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the authority and government of the pope (distinguished from theQuirinal ).
noun
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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
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( as modifier )
the Vatican Council
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the authority of the Pope and the papal curia
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( as modifier )
a Vatican edict
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Etymology
Origin of Vatican
1545–55; < Latin vātīcānus ( mōns ) Vatican (hill)
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 Archbishop of Canterbury has praised Pope Leo for speaking out against injustice after the pair's historic meeting at the Vatican.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
Meanwhile, the Catholic church, launching reforms that culminated in Vatican II, officially recognized that political institutions could be independent from church structures.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026
"This is our God: Jesus, king of peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war," he told tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in Vatican City.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
Since then, modern presidents have occasionally found themselves at odds with the Vatican.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026
His uncompromising crusade brought him into direct confrontation with the Vatican.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
