pontiff

noun

pon·​tiff ˈpän-təf How to pronounce pontiff (audio)
1
2
: bishop
specifically, often capitalized : pope sense 1

Examples of pontiff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At a climate conference near Rome, the pontiff said Wednesday that damaging the natural world is incompatible with the Christian faith. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025 The pontiff had also sent a telegram message offering condolences last month after a shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minnesota, leaving two children dead and 18 others injured, including more than a dozen kids from the school. Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025 Pope Leo was elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first-ever American pontiff in May of this year, following the death of Pope Francis. Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025 The 70-year-old pontiff slammed the widening income gap between the working class and the wealthy—specifically calling out the Tesla CEO as an egregious example of executive excess. Preston Fore, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pontiff

Word History

Etymology

French pontif, from Latin pontific-, pontifex

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of pontiff was in 1552

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pontiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pontiff. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

pontiff

noun
pon·​tiff ˈpänt-əf How to pronounce pontiff (audio)
: bishop sense 1
especially, often capitalized : pope
pontifical
pän-ˈtif-i-kəl
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on pontiff

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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