curia

noun

cu·​ria ˈkyu̇r-ē-ə How to pronounce curia (audio)
ˈku̇r-,
ˈkyər-
plural curiae ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌē How to pronounce curia (audio)
ˈku̇r-ē-ˌī,
ˈkyər-
1
a
: a division of the ancient Roman people comprising several gentes of a tribe
b
: the place of assembly of one of these divisions
2
a
: the court of a medieval king
b
: a court of justice
3
often capitalized : the body of congregations, tribunals, and offices through which the pope governs the Roman Catholic Church
curial
ˈkyu̇r-ē-əl How to pronounce curia (audio)
ˈku̇r-
ˈkyər-
adjective

Examples of curia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The pope spent the morning in physiotherapy, followed Lenten spiritual exercises of the Roman curia and stopped to pray at the chapel in the Gemelli Hospital. — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 14 Mar. 2025 On Sunday evening, the pope watched live coverage of the first day of Spiritual Exercises for Lent for the Roman curia held in the Paul VI Audience Hall in the Vatican. — Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, perhaps from co- + vir man — more at virile

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of curia was in 1600

Rhymes for curia

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Browse Nearby Words

curfuffle
curia
curialism
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Cite this Entry

“Curia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curia. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about curia

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