: of or relating to a pope or to the Roman Catholic Church
also
: resembling a pope or that of a pope
Examples of papal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The new pope revived traditions including greeting worshipers in 10 languages and carrying the cross on Good Friday, signaling departures from recent papal practice.
—
Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
In 16th-century Italy, Roman merchants reportedly partnered with cardinals’ papal conclave attendants to wager on who would be named the new pope.
—Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
In 16th-century Italy, gamblers could wager on the election of civic magistrates and the outcome of papal conclaves.
—Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Leo's events in Monaco were marked by all the usual protocol and pomp of a papal tour abroad.
—Reuters, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
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Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
In 16th-century Italy, Roman merchants reportedly partnered with cardinals’ papal conclave attendants to wager on who would be named the new pope.
—Kelli María Korducki, thehustle.co, 3 Apr. 2026
In 16th-century Italy, gamblers could wager on the election of civic magistrates and the outcome of papal conclaves.
—Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Leo's events in Monaco were marked by all the usual protocol and pomp of a papal tour abroad.
—Reuters, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for papal
Cite this Entry
“Papal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papal. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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