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

In his latest message, the pope called for national governments and international bodies to take action in this area. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026

Italians were betting on the expiration dates of popes as early as the 1400s, a practice popular enough for Pope Gregory XIV, 170 years later, to outlaw widespread gambling on clerical deaths. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

The book features a print advertisement in which the pope endorses the product. —Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 12 Jan. 2026

The occasion was the pope’s annual audience with the Vatican diplomatic corps, which traditionally amounts to his yearly foreign policy address. —Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 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