papable

[ pey-puh-buhl ]

adjective

1. suitable or likely to become pope.

Other Words From

• papa·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of papable¹

1585–95; < Middle French < Italian papabile, equivalent to papa pope + -bile -ble

Example Sentences

PHOTOS: The buzz around Simone Biles' return is papable.

From Washington Times

The threat was too papable to be mistaken, nor was he sufficiently conversant with the world of policy to detect its fallacy.

From Project Gutenberg

These wants, papable as they are in times of peace, become doubly pressing in time of war.

From Project Gutenberg

Lord Bacon somewhere describes a certain candidate for the Chair of St. Peter as being 'papable.'

From Project Gutenberg

When Bacon wrote, one to be 'papable' must have been born in lawful wedlock; must have no children nor grandchildren living; must not have a kinsman already in the Conclave; must be already a Cardinal; all which facts this single word sums up.

From Project Gutenberg