dubia

D2U1B3I1A1

noun

A set of questions on doctrine sent by Catholic bishops to the Holy See.

UncommonScrabble 8

Meanings

noundubia pl (normally plural, singular dubium)

singular dubium

  1. pluralplural normallyCatholicismA set of questions on doctrine sent by Catholic bishops to the Holy See.

    The dubia began as a private letter, as is usual with such requests for doctrinal clarity. Francis offered no reply.

    2016 November 26, Ross Douthat, “His Holiness Declines to Answer”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
    2 more examples

    Eleven dubia, have been raised regarding the application of the Motu proprio Traditionis custodes through which in July 2021 Pope Francis promulgated new norms regarding the use of the liturgical books in use prior to the reform enacted by the Second Vatican Council.

    2021 December 18, “Celebration of old rite: Holy See responds to questions presented by bishops”, in Vatican News

    On July 10, Cardinal Burke and other leading traditionalist cardinals sent a letter to Francis known as a “dubia” that conveyed their concerns about the Synod, and demanded that he clear up, among other issues, the blessing of same-sex unions.

    [2023 October 3, Jason Horowitz, “Conservative Catholics, Relegated to Sidelines, Denounce Papal Gathering”, in The New York Times, →ISSN
noundubia (plural dubias)

plural dubias

Origin

  1. Latindubia
  2. Englishdubia

Borrowed from Latin dubia, plural of dubium (literally “doubt”).

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

dubia. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dubia

MLA

“dubia.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dubia. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dubia,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dubia.

Source: dubia on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.