catholic

1 of 3

adjective

cath·​o·​lic ˈkath-lik 

ˈka-thə-

1

a

Catholic : roman catholic

Her son goes to a Catholic school.

b

often Catholic : of, relating to, or forming the church universal

c

often Catholic : of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it

2

: comprehensive, universal

especially : broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests

a catholic taste in music

catholically

kə-ˈthä-li-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

catholicize

kə-ˈthä-lə-ˌsīz 

verb

Catholic

2 of 3

noun

Cath·​o·​lic ˈkath-lik 

ˈka-thə-

1

: a member of a Catholic church

especially : roman catholic

2

: a person who belongs to the universal Christian church

catholicize

3 of 3

verb

ca·​thol·​i·​cize kə-ˈthä-lə-ˌsīz 

-ed/-ing/-s

often capitalized

transitive verb

: to make Catholic

specifically : romanize

intransitive verb

: to become Catholic

specifically : romanize

Synonyms of catholic

Adjective

• unlimited
• general
• unrestricted

Examples of catholic in a Sentence

Adjective

She is a novelist who is catholic in her interests.

a museum director with catholic tastes in art

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Doug Pagitt, a pastor and executive director of Vote Common Good, an organization dedicated to Democratic outreach to Catholic and evangelical voters, echoed Warnock's comment. — Hannah Demissie, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Rescuers dug through debris looking for anyone buried beneath landslides triggered by the quake across six regencies on Flores, a predominantly Catholic island in the Muslim-majority country. — Firdia Lisnawati, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026

Noun

Among the school’s in attendance was Central Catholic, which is coming off of an 8-4 season and returns key players like quarterback Caden Smith and lineman Brian Waller-Reitano. — Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

Advertisement Last year, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix began working on an initiative that involved holding listening sessions with young people about their thoughts and feelings on various topics, including faith and family life. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English catholik, from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French catholique, from Late Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos universal, general, from katholou in general, from kata by + holos whole — more at cata-, safe

and Verb

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing catholic

• Anglo-Catholic
• anti-Catholic
• Catholic Apostolic
• Catholic Epistles
• Greek Catholic
• non-Catholic
• Old Catholic
• Roman Catholic

Kids Definition

catholic

1 of 2 adjective

cath·​o·​lic ˈkath-(ə-)lik 

1

capitalized

a

: of or relating to the Christian church as a whole

b

: roman catholic

2

: broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests

a catholic taste in music

Catholicism

kə-ˈthäl-ə-ˌsiz-əm

noun

Catholic

2 of 2 noun

1

: christian entry 1 sense 2

2

: a member of the Roman Catholic church