What does "catholic" mean?
A member of a Catholic (western Christian) church.
Catholic
/ˈkæ.θ(ə.)lɪk/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of a Catholic (western Christian) church.
- Grammar: catholic is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: all comprehensive, all embracing, all inclusive, all pervading.
- Useful contrasts: albigensian, orthodox, anabaptist.
- Usage evidence: Even people who don't believe in the Catholic church venerate the Pope as a symbolic leader.
How to use "catholic"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "catholic" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "catholic" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "catholic" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "catholic" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "catholic" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "all comprehensive" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "catholic", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A member of a Catholic (western Christian) church.
- 2 a member of a Catholic church wordnet
- 3 A member of a Catholic (western Christian) church.; A member of the Roman Catholic Church (which is also elliptically called the Catholic Church). ellipsis, often
"The wife of the Prime Minister is a Catholic."
Adjective
- 1 Universal; all-encompassing.
"The church is catholic, universal, so are all her actions; all that she does, belongs to all."
- 2 Of the Western Christian church, as differentiated from e.g. the Orthodox church.
"Christmas is celebrated at different dates in the Catholic and Orthodox calendars."
- 3 Alternative letter-case form of Catholic. alt-of
- 4 Of the Western Christian church, as differentiated from e.g. the Orthodox church.; Of the Roman Catholic church in particular.
"The Church of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic one."
- 5 Common or prevalent; especially universally prevalent. obsolete
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 Alternative letter-case form of catholic. alt-of
- 7 Embracing all. usually
""I've got catholic tastes. Catholic with a small "c", of course.""
- 8 Universally applicable. obsolete
- 9 Of universal human interest or use.
"And as the whole booke of Psalmes is Oleum efjusum, (as the Spouse speaks of the name of Christ) an Oyntment powred out upon all sorts of sores, A Searcloth that souples all bruises, A Balme that searches all wounds; so are there some certaine Psalmes, that are Imperiall Psalmes, that command over all affections, and spread themselves over all occasions, Catholique, universall Psalmes, that apply themselves to all necessities."
Adjective
- 1 free from provincial prejudices or attachments wordnet
- 2 of or relating to or supporting Catholicism wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Even people who don't believe in the Catholic church venerate the Pope as a symbolic leader."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "catholic"?
Common synonyms include: all comprehensive, all embracing, all inclusive, all pervading, all-comprehending, all-comprehensive.
How do you use "catholic" in a sentence?
Even people who don't believe in the Catholic church venerate the Pope as a symbolic leader.
How do you pronounce "catholic"?
Pronounced /ˈkæ.θ(ə.)lɪk/.
Etymology
From Old French catholique, from Latin catholicus, from Ancient Greek καθολικός (katholikós, “universal”), from κατά (katá, “according to”) + ὅλος (hólos, “whole”).