concordat

noun

con·​cor·​dat kən-ˈkȯr-ˌdat 

: compact, covenant

specifically : an agreement between a pope and a sovereign or government for the regulation of ecclesiastical matters

Examples of concordat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The concordat system was abolished. —Rachel Donadio, The Atlantic, 22 Nov. 2021

Pope Pius VII signed a concordat with Napoleon (whose troops controlled Rome) and traveled to Paris for his coronation as emperor in 1804. —Paul Elie, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2022

One poll showed that 78% of respondents across France supported abrogation of the 1801 concordat in Alsace-Moselle. —Noemie Bisserbe, WSJ, 22 June 2021

After the fall of communism in 1989, Poland signed several concordats to hand back communal lands that had been seized, including one with the Jewish community, which lodged more than 5,000 claims. —Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2019

Since the concordat was launched, public support for animal research has stabilized in the United Kingdom, although showing cause and effect is difficult. —Meredith Wadman, Science | AAAS, 14 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin concordatum, from Latin, neuter of concordatus, past participle of concordare

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above