pontiff

noun

pon·​tiff ˈpän-təf How to pronounce pontiff (audio)
1
2
: bishop
specifically, often Pontiff : pope sense 1

Examples of pontiff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Vatican said this week that the pontiff, who is currently on a historic visit to Spain, met with the Puerto Rican superstar in Madrid on Monday. Mason Leib, ABC News, 10 June 2026 The pontiff has been packing out stadiums and plazas for prayer vigils and Masses, while the Puerto Rican rapper has been holding his party-style mega-concerts in front of tens of thousands. Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 10 June 2026 The American pontiff traveled to Spain dozens of times as a priest, but this is the first visit here by a pope in 15 years. CBS News, 6 June 2026 The pontiff will end his visit at the Canary Islands, the end point of what the United Nations has described as one of the world’s deadliest migration routes. Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pontiff

Word History

Etymology

French pontif, from Latin pontific-, pontifex

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of pontiff was in 1552

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pontiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pontiff. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

pontiff

noun
pon·​tiff ˈpänt-əf How to pronounce pontiff (audio)
: bishop sense 1
especially, often capitalized : pope
pontifical
pän-ˈtif-i-kəl
adjective

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