1
a
capitalized
: roman catholic
Her son goes to a Catholic school.
b
often capitalized
: of, relating to, or forming the church universal
c
often capitalized
: of, relating to, or forming the ancient undivided Christian church or a church claiming historical continuity from it
2
: comprehensive, universal
especially
: broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests
a catholic taste in music
1
: a member of a Catholic church
especially
: roman catholic
2
: a person who belongs to the universal Christian church
Synonyms
Examples of catholic in a Sentence
Adjective
She is a novelist who is catholic in her interests.
a museum director with catholic tastes in art
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Bonte, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2024
The brothers’ catholic influences range from local graffiti writers to Brazilian modernist painter Alfredo Volpi to American underground-comics illustrator Vaughn Bodē.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2024
Reuters, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Some eager District 9 voters arrived at St. Bernard Catholic Church before the polls opened at 7 a.m., volunteer greeter Bob Klein of Appleton said.
—Madison Lammert, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for catholic 
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Adjective
Other top attractions include Hôtel de Ville, the city’s town hall, and two architectural marvels: the catholic churches of Cathédrale Saint-Sauveur and Église Saint-Jean-de-Malte.
—Mark Bonte, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2024
The brothers’ catholic influences range from local graffiti writers to Brazilian modernist painter Alfredo Volpi to American underground-comics illustrator Vaughn Bodē.
—Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2024
Noun
The final report outlined 138 recommendations, including calling for public apologies from New Zealand’s government, as well as the pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury, heads of the Catholic and Anglican churches, respectively, who have condemned child abuse.
—Reuters, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Some eager District 9 voters arrived at St. Bernard Catholic Church before the polls opened at 7 a.m., volunteer greeter Bob Klein of Appleton said.
—Madison Lammert, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for catholic
Dictionary Entries Near catholic
Cite this Entry
“Catholic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catholic. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
catholic
1 of 2 adjective
cath·o·lic
ˈkath-(ə-)lik 
1
2
: broad in sympathies, tastes, or interests
a catholic taste in music
Catholicism
noun
kə-ˈthäl-ə-ˌsiz-əm
Catholic
2 of 2 noun2
: a member of the Roman Catholic church
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