The Catholic Church is the branch of the Christian Church that accepts the Pope as its leader and is based in the Vatican in Rome.
...the Catholic Church.
...Catholic priests.
...the Catholic faith.
2. See also Anglo-Catholic
3. countable noun
A Catholic is a member of the Catholic Church.
At least nine out of ten Mexicans are baptised Catholics.
4. adjective
If you describe a collection of things or people as catholic, you are emphasizing that they are very varied.
He was a man of catholic tastes, a lover of grand opera, history and the fine arts.
catholic in British English
(ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk)
adjective
1.
universal; relating to all people; all-inclusive
2.
comprehensive in interests, tastes, etc; broad-minded; liberal
Derived forms
catholically or catholicly (kəˈθɒlɪklɪ)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Latin catholicus, from Greek katholikos universal, from katholou in general, from kata- according to + holos whole
Catholic in British English
(ˈkæθəlɪk, ˈkæθlɪk)
adjective Christianity
1.
denoting or relating to the entire body of Christians, esp to the Church before separation into the Greek or Eastern and Latin or Western Churches
2.
denoting or relating to the Latin or Western Church after this separation
3.
denoting or relating to the Roman Catholic Church
4.
denoting or relating to any church, belief, etc, that claims continuity with or originates in the ancient undivided Church
noun
5.
a member of any of the Churches regarded as Catholic, esp the Roman Catholic Church
catholic in American English
(ˈkæθəlɪk; ˈkæθlɪk)
adjective
1.
of general scope or value; all-inclusive; universal
2.
broad in sympathies, tastes, or understanding; liberal
3. [oftenC-]
of the Christian church as a whole; specif., of the ancient, undivided Christian church
4. [C-]
of the Christian church headed by the pope; Roman Catholic
5. [C-]
of any of the orthodox Christian churches, including the Roman, Greek Orthodox, Anglo-Catholic, etc., asdistinguished from the Reformed or Protestant churches
noun
6. [oftenC-]
a member of the universal Christian church
7. [C-]
a member of any of the Catholic churches; esp., a Roman Catholic
Derived forms
catholically (caˈtholically) (kəˈθɑlɪkəli)
adverb
Word origin
ME catholik < L catholicus, universal, general (in LL(Ec) & ML, orthodox, Catholic) < Gr katholikos < kata-, down, completely + holos, whole: see holo-
Synonyms of 'catholic'
wide, general, liberal, global
More Synonyms of catholic
In other languages
Catholic
British English: Catholic /ˈkæθəlɪk; ˈkæθlɪk/ ADJECTIVE
The Catholic Church is the branch of the Christian Church that accepts the Pope as its leader and is based in the Vatican in Rome.
...Catholic priests.
American English: Catholic
Arabic: كَاثُولِيكيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: católico
Chinese: 天主教的
Croatian: katolički
Czech: katolický
Danish: katolsk
Dutch: katholiek
European Spanish: católico
Finnish: katolinen adjektiivi
French: catholique
German: katholisch
Greek: καθολικός
Italian: cattolico
Japanese: カトリックの
Korean: 가톨릭교의
Norwegian: katolsk
Polish: katolicki
European Portuguese: católico
Romanian: catolic
Russian: католический
Latin American Spanish: católico
Swedish: katolsk
Thai: นิกายคาทอลิค
Turkish: Katolik
Ukrainian: католицький
Vietnamese: theo Công giáo
British English: Catholic /ˈkæθəlɪk; ˈkæθlɪk/ NOUN
A Catholic is a member of the Catholic Church.
...a very devout Catholic.
American English: Catholic
Arabic: كَاثُولِيكيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: católico
Chinese: 天主教
Croatian: katolik
Czech: katolík
Danish: katolik
Dutch: katholiek
European Spanish: católico
Finnish: katolinen henkilö
French: catholique
German: Katholik
Greek: Καθολικός
Italian: cattolico
Japanese: カトリック教徒
Korean: 가톨릭교도
Norwegian: katolikk
Polish: katolik
European Portuguese: católico
Romanian: catolic
Russian: католик
Latin American Spanish: católico
Swedish: katolik
Thai: ผู้นับถือนิกายคาทอลิค
Turkish: Katolik
Ukrainian: католик
Vietnamese: tín đồ Công giáo
Definition of 'Catholic'
(adjective)
Definition
(of tastes or interests) covering a wide range
He was a man of catholic tastes, enjoying music and fine arts of all kinds.
Synonyms
wide
His eyes were wide with disbelief.
general
His firm took over general maintenance of the park last summer.
liberal
She is known to have liberal views on abortion and contraception.
global
a global vision of contemporary society
varied
comprehensive
The book is a comprehensive guide to the region.
universal
proposals for universal health care
world-wide
tolerant
They need to be tolerant of different points of view.
eclectic
an eclectic collection of exhibits
all-inclusive
ecumenical
all-embracing
broad-minded
You'll find me more broad-minded than you think.
unbigoted
unsectarian
multicultural
multiculti (informal)
Opposites
limited
,
exclusive
,
sectarian
,
parochial
,
bigoted
,
narrow-minded
,
illiberal
Additional synonyms
in the sense of broad-minded
Definition
tolerant of opposing viewpoints
You'll find me more broad-minded than you think.
Synonyms
tolerant,
open-minded,
flexible,
liberal,
catholic,
cosmopolitan,
responsive,
indulgent,
permissive,
unbiased,
dispassionate,
free-thinking,
unprejudiced,
undogmatic,
unbigoted
in the sense of comprehensive
Definition
of broad scope or content
The book is a comprehensive guide to the region.
Synonyms
broad,
full,
complete,
wide,
catholic,
sweeping,
extensive,
blanket,
umbrella,
thorough,
inclusive,
exhaustive,
all-inclusive,
all-embracing,
overarching,
encyclopedic
in the sense of eclectic
Definition
selecting elements from a wide range of styles, ideas, or sources
an eclectic collection of exhibits
Synonyms
diverse,
general,
broad,
varied,
comprehensive,
extensive,
wide-ranging,
selective,
diversified,
manifold (formal),
heterogeneous,
catholic,
all-embracing,
liberal,
many-sided,
multifarious,
dilettantish
Nearby words of
catholic
caterwaul
caterwauling
catharsis
catholic
catnap
cattiness
cattle
Synonyms of 'catholic'
catholic
Explore 'Catholic' in the dictionary
All related terms of 'Catholic'
anti-Catholic
opposed to the beliefs , practices , and adherents of the Roman Catholic Church
non-Catholic
not of or relating to the Roman Catholic Church
Old Catholic
of or relating to several small national Churches which have broken away from the Roman Catholic Church on matters of doctrine
Anglo-Catholic
The Anglo-Catholic part of the Church of England, or of the churches related to it, is the part whose beliefs and practices are similar to those of the Catholic Church.
Catholic Church
any of several Churches claiming to have maintained continuity with the ancient and undivided Church
Catholic school
a school that includes instruction in Roman Catholic faith in its curriculum , with teachers who are often nuns or monks
Greek Catholic
a member of an Eastern Church in communion with the Greek patriarchal see of Constantinople
Roman Catholic
The Roman Catholic Church is the same as the → Catholic Church.
Catholic Epistles
the epistles of James , I and II Peter , I John , and Jude , which were addressed to the universal Church rather than to an individual or a particular church
Roman Catholic Church
the Christian Church over which the pope presides , with administrative headquarters in the Vatican
non-
Non- is used in front of adjectives and nouns to form adjectives that describe something as not having a particular quality or feature .