What does "catholicism" mean?

The faiths, practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, usually the Roman Catholic Church.

How do you pronounce "catholicism"?

Pronounced //kəˈθɒlɪsɪzəm//.

Common synonyms include: branch, catholic doctrine, catholic faith, catholicity, denomination, doctrinal system.

/kəˈθɒlɪsɪzəm/ noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Noun

1
The faiths, practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church, usually the Roman Catholic Church. uncountable, usually
"Catholicism is the second largest religious body after Sunni Muslims"
2
The state or quality of being catholic or universal; catholicity. uncountable, usually
"1664-1667, Jeremy Taylor, Dissuasive from Popery this broken consent is not an infallible testimony of the catholicism of the doctrine"
3
the beliefs and practices of a Catholic Church wordnet
4
Liberality of sentiment; breadth of view. uncountable, usually

"He is a recent convert to Catholicism."

Etymology 1

Compare French catholicisme.

Etymology 2

From catholic + -ism.