pontiff

noun

pon·​tiff ˈpän-təf 

1

: pontifex

2

: bishop

specifically, often Pontiff : pope sense 1

Examples of pontiff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The visit came a day after the first American pontiff marked the first anniversary of his election as head of the Catholic Church and as the United Nations details in a new report how the spreading violence by armed groups continues to devastate Haitians’ lives. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 9 May 2026

Leo is the first pontiff to be comfortable using a smart phone, wearing an Apple watch and writing his own emails. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 8 May 2026

Attendance at the Mass, hosted by the Archdiocese of Chicago, was among the highest in archdiocesan history — though surpassed by the famed 1979 Mass in Grant Park celebrated by Pope John Paul II, the only pontiff to come to Chicago. —Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026

Trump has accused Pope Leo XIV of being soft on terrorism and supporting negotiations with Iran, claiming the pontiff endangers Catholics by failing to oppose Iran’s potential acquisition of nuclear weapons. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French pontif, from Latin pontific-, pontifex

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

pontiff

noun

pon·​tiff ˈpänt-əf 

: bishop sense 1

especially, often capitalized : pope

pontifical

pän-ˈtif-i-kəl

adjective