Vatican

noun

Vat·​i·​can ˈva-ti-kən 

1

: the papal headquarters in Rome

2

: the papal government

Vatican adjective

Examples of Vatican in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But according to the findings of the latest Vatican investigation, the abuses went beyond Figari. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024

After a strong reception on the fall film fest scene, Edward Berger’s Vatican thriller, Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes is going one week earlier via Focus Features on Oct. 25. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2024

Almost half the population of East Timor, the most Catholic nation outside Vatican City, attended a Mass presided over by Pope Francis on Tuesday on the third leg of his Asia trip. —Peter Guo, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2024

Director Edward Berger says the backroom power politicking in Conclave, his Vatican conspiracy thriller, has an echo in U.S. president Joe Biden recently being replaced as the Democratic Party nominee by Vice President Kamala Harris. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin (mons) Vāticānus, hill on the west bank of the Tiber, the traditional site of the apostle Peter's tomb, on which a basilica was built in the 4th century

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Vatican

• the Vatican