catholic
broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal.
universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all.
pertaining to the whole Christian body or church.
Origin of catholic
1Other words from catholic
- ca·thol·i·cal·ly, ca·thol·ic·ly [kuh-thol-ik-lee], /kəˈθɒl ɪk li/, adverb
- ca·thol·i·cal·ness, cath·o·lic·ness, noun
- pseu·do·ca·thol·i·cal·ly, adverb
- su·per·cath·o·lic, adjective
- su·per·ca·thol·i·cal·ly, adverb
- un·cath·o·lic, adjective
Other definitions for Catholic (2 of 2)
of or relating to a Catholic church, especially the Roman Catholic Church.
Theology.
(among Roman Catholics) claiming to possess exclusively the notes or characteristics of the one, only, true, and universal church having unity, visibility, indefectibility, apostolic succession, universality, and sanctity: used in this sense, with these qualifications, only by the Church of Rome, as applicable only to itself and its adherents and to their faith and organization; often qualified, especially by those not acknowledging these claims, by prefixing the word Roman.
(among Anglo-Catholics) noting or pertaining to the conception of the church as the body representing the ancient undivided Christian witness, comprising all the orthodox churches that have kept the apostolic succession of bishops, and including the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, Church of Sweden, the Old Catholic Church (in the Netherlands and elsewhere), etc.
pertaining to the Western Church.
a member of a Catholic church, especially of the Roman Catholic Church.
Origin of Catholic
2Other words from Catholic
- an·ti-Cath·o·lic, adjective, noun
- non-Cath·o·lic, adjective, noun
- pro-Cath·o·lic, adjective, noun
- pseu·do-Cath·o·lic, adjective, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use catholic in a sentence
It would not necessarily be an uncatholic act, however, but it would certainly be an unpapal one.
Ave Roma Immortalis, Vol. 2 | Francis Marion CrawfordIrving, I imagine, with all his genius, had a very uncatholic spirit.
The Religious Life of London | J. Ewing RitchieDoes he dream that Spain, unchristian, or even uncatholic, can exist as a monarchy?
Through their reserve they were acceptable in an uncatholic age.
Edward Caldwell Moore | Edward MooreThey were written in an uncatholic age, that is, in the age of the Reformation.
Edward Caldwell Moore | Edward Moore
British Dictionary definitions for catholic (1 of 2)
/ (ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk) /
universal; relating to all men; all-inclusive
comprehensive in interests, tastes, etc; broad-minded; liberal
Origin of catholic
1Derived forms of catholic
- catholically or catholicly (kəˈθɒlɪklɪ), adverb
British Dictionary definitions for Catholic (2 of 2)
/ (ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk) /
denoting or relating to the entire body of Christians, esp to the Church before separation into the Greek or Eastern and Latin or Western Churches
denoting or relating to the Latin or Western Church after this separation
denoting or relating to the Roman Catholic Church
denoting or relating to any church, belief, etc, that claims continuity with or originates in the ancient undivided Church
a member of any of the Churches regarded as Catholic, esp the Roman Catholic Church
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
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