pope

1 of 2

noun

ˈpōp 

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

Popian

2 of 2

adjective

Pop·​i·​an

variants or less commonly Popean

ˈpōpēən 

: of, relating to, or resembling Alexander Pope or his poetry

the fashionable Popian couplet

—George Saintsbury

Examples of pope in a Sentence

Noun

The cardinals elected a new pope.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Former popes have apologized for Christians’ involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

In the Catholic Church, the appointment of new bishops is the responsibility of the pope. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 2 July 2026

After Leo’s election many experts looked to Cupich’s ministry for clues to how the new American pope would shepherd the global church. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026

At a private ceremony at the Vatican in April, Stango presented the pope with the medal in person. — Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Adjective

Alexander Pope †1744 English poet + -ian, -an

First Known Use

Noun

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

Rhymes for pope

• cope
• dope
• grope
• lope
• mope
• nope
• rope
• scope
• shope
• slope
• soap
• stope

Kids Definition

pope

noun

ˈpōp 

often capitalized

: the head of the Roman Catholic Church

Biographical Definition

Pope 1 of 2

biographical name (1)

ˈpōp 

Alexander 1688–1744 English poet

Popian

ˈpō-pē-ən 

adjective

or less commonly Popean

Pope

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

John 1822–1892 American general