pope

noun

ˈpōp 

1

often capitalized : 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

Examples of pope in a Sentence

The cardinals elected a new pope.

Recent Examples on the Web

In churches around the world, Masses on the June 29 feast day often include a special collection for Peter’s Pence, a fund that underwrites the operations of the central government of the Catholic Church and pays for the pope’s personal acts of charity. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025

The photo, shared to Instagram by the pope's official account, was part of a carousel of images showing the pontiff alongside worshipers in Vatican City. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 27 June 2025

The pope’s praise of journalists’ work in exposing abuse scandals is significant, given that some bishops have in the past criticized the media for its reporting on them. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 21 June 2025

Since being elected pope in early May, Leo has made the risks of AI on humanity a key priority of his papacy. —Miranda Nazzaro, The Hill, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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 adjective

or less commonly Popean

ˈpō-pē-ən 

Pope

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

John 1822–1892 American general