papacy

[ pey-puh-see ]

noun

, Roman Catholic Church.

, plural pa·pa·cies.

1. the office, dignity, or jurisdiction of the pope.
2. the system of ecclesiastical government in which the pope is recognized as the supreme head.
3. the period during which a certain pope is in office.
4. the succession or line of the popes.

papacy

/ ˈpeɪpəsɪ /

noun

1. the office or term of office of a pope
2. the system of government in the Roman Catholic Church that has the pope as its head

papacy

1. The office or position of the pope .

Other Words From

• anti·papa·cy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of papacy¹

1350–1400; Middle English papacie < Medieval Latin pāpātia. See pope, -acy

Word History and Origins

Origin of papacy¹

C14: from Medieval Latin pāpātia, from pāpa pope ¹

Related Words

• pontiff