pope

noun

ˈpōp How to pronounce pope (audio)
Synonyms of popenext
1
often Pope : a prelate who as bishop of Rome is the head of the Roman Catholic Church
2
: one that resembles a pope (as in authority)
3
a
: the Eastern Orthodox or Coptic patriarch of Alexandria
b
: a priest of an Eastern church

Examples of pope in a Sentence

The cardinals elected a new pope.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
People have bet on the next president and the next pope, on war and on peace. — Finn Brunton, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026 The Ruspolis made their fortune through Vatican connections and helped usher in several popes and even a saint. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 Attendees arrived sporting Malört T-shirts, jerseys, hats shaped like the bottle and Malört-themed costumes, including the Mandalorian and pope. — Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 For Leo, the recognition highlights how his personal style has become part of his public image since becoming pope in 2025. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pope

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English pāpa, from Late Latin papa, from Greek pappas, papas, title of bishops, literally, papa

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pope was before the 12th century

Rhymes for pope

See All Rhymes for pope

Browse Nearby Words

popdock
pope
Pope
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pope. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pope

noun
ˈpōp How to pronounce pope (audio)
often capitalized
: the head of the Roman Catholic Church

Biographical Definition

Pope 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈpōp How to pronounce Pope (audio)
Alexander 1688–1744 English poet
Popian
ˈpō-pē-ən How to pronounce Pope (audio)
adjective
or less commonly Popean

Pope

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

John 1822–1892 American general

More from Merriam-Webster on pope

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pope

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pope

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