catholicity

American  

[kath-uh-lis-i-tee] / ˌkæθ əˈlɪs ɪ ti /

noun

1. broad-mindedness or liberality, as of tastes, interests, or views.

2. universality; general inclusiveness.

3. (initial capital letter) the Roman Catholic Church, or its doctrines and usages.

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catholicity ¹ British  

/ ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. a wide range of interests, tastes, etc; liberality

2. universality; comprehensiveness

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Catholicity ² British  

/ ˌkæθəˈlɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the beliefs, etc, of the Catholic Church

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Other Word Forms

• noncatholicity noun
• uncatholicity noun

Etymology

Origin of catholicity

First recorded in 1820–30; catholic + -ity

Example Sentences

For visitors returning after five months, the catholicity of these galleries will be a treat.

From New York Times • Aug. 27, 2020

When some people rave about “Hamilton” as a “hip-hop musical,” they’re applauding the expansion of their taste — of their artistic tolerance — and obscuring Miranda’s voracious catholicity.

From New York Times • Mar. 10, 2016

It would be hard to top the catholicity of discovery provided by this eclectic collection of scientists.

From Scientific American • Jun. 21, 2013

It is a measure of this fine first novel's catholicity � with a lower-case c� that the choice seems almost irrelevant.

From Time Magazine Archive

In fact, a hyenas catholicity of taste is so indiscriminate it nearly forces admiration.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel