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papacy

Intermediate (B1)

IPA: /ˈpeɪpəsi/

KK: /ˈpeɪpəsi/

noun
Definition

The office or authority of the pope in the Roman Catholic Church, including the period during which a pope serves.


Example

The papacy has played a significant role in the history of the Catholic Church.


Conversation
Sloth A
Did you read about the latest developments in the papacy?
Sloth B
Yeah, it’s interesting how the Vatican is adapting to modern issues.
Sloth A
I wonder how the papacy will influence global politics in the future.
Sloth B
It definitely has a significant impact, especially on social matters.

Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
pontificate
papal
clergy
Antonyms
laity
secularism
dissent
Root Explanation

Papacy → It is formed from "papa" (from Latin "papa", meaning father) and "-cy" (a suffix denoting a state or condition). The word "papacy" refers to the office or authority of the Pope, the father of the Christian church.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'papa' meaning father, which helps you remember that 'papacy' refers to the state or office of the father figure in the Christian church.

Visually Confused Words

No commonly confused words.

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