pope

noun

ˈpōp 

1

often Pope : 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

If convinced, the dicastery sends the case to the pope, who signs a decree saying the candidate can be beatified. —ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026

Jews don’t have a pope; Jewish practice comes in many varieties, and many Jews choose to be Jewish purely as an ethnic identity, without a religious life. —Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026

This year, the United States' 250th anniversary, the medal will be awarded to the first-ever American pope. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026

The prosecution and 2023 convictions against Becciu and others had been held up by the Vatican and late pope as evidence of his willingness to crack down on financial misconduct in the Holy See. —Nicole Winfield The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026

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

ˈpō-pē-ən 

adjective

or less commonly Popean

Pope

2 of 2

biographical name (2)

John 1822–1892 American general