papal

adjective

pa·​pal ˈpā-pəl How to pronounce papal (audio)
: of or relating to a pope or to the Roman Catholic Church
also : resembling a pope or that of a pope
papally adverb

Examples of papal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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When the late Pope Francis was elected, a dozen years ago, and famously declined the pomp and perquisites typically associated with the office, among his renunciations was the use of the papal summer residence—a seventeenth-century palazzo in Castel Gandolfo, about fifteen miles south of Rome. Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 28 July 2025 Once selected, the successor will have the chance to accept the title, choose a papal name, and dress in papal attire, among other procedures. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the first-ever pope from the U.S., after 133 cardinals selected him from across the globe on the second day of the papal conclave in Rome on May 8. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Cardinals from around the world are at the Sistine Chapel in Rome for the papal conclave to select the new head of the Catholic Church following the April 21 death of Pope Francis. Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for papal

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin papalis, from Late Latin papa

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of papal was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Papal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/papal. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

papal

adjective
pa·​pal ˈpā-pəl How to pronounce papal (audio)
: of or relating to the pope or the papacy
papally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on papal

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