Catholic

From Old French catholique, from Latin catholicus, from Ancient Greek καθολικός (katholikós, “universal”), from κατά (katá, “according to”) + ὅλος (hólos, “whole”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈkæθ(ə)lɪk/

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• Rhymes: -æθəlɪk, -æθlɪk
• Hyphenation: Cath‧o‧lic

Catholic (comparative more Catholic, superlative most Catholic)

1. Of the Western Christian church, as differentiated from e.g. the Orthodox church.

   Christmas is celebrated at different dates in the Catholic and Orthodox calendars.

2. Of the Roman Catholic church in particular.

   The Church of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic one.

   Catholic churches are built differently than Protestant ones.

3. Alternative letter-case form of catholic

Catholic (plural Catholics)

1. A member of a Catholic church.

   Hypernyms: Christian, Trinitarian

   Coordinate terms: Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant, Quaker

   The wife of the Prime Minister is a Catholic.

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