caesaropapism

American  

[see-zuh-roh-pey-piz-uhm] / ˌsi zə roʊˈpeɪ pɪz əm /

noun

1. the possession of supreme authority over church and state by one person, often by a secular ruler.

2. the supremacy of the state over the church in ecclesiastical matters.

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Other Word Forms

• caesaropapist noun

Etymology

Origin of caesaropapism

First recorded in 1885–90; Caesar + -o- + papism