papal

P3A1P3A1L1
/ˈpeɪpəl/[ˈpʰeɪ̯.p(ʰ)əɫ]

adjective

Having to do with the pope or the papacy.

Similar
apostolicapostolicalpontifical
OriginMiddle English papal ← Old French papal ← Medieval Latin pāpālis →
Less commonScrabble 9
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Meanings

adjectivepapal (comparative more papal, superlative most papal)

comparative more papal · superlative most papal

  1. Having to do with the pope or the papacy.

    In both the 2005 and 2013 papal elections there were whispers circulating that back in 1976 Francis had failed to help the two priests in their hour of need.

    2025 April 21, Peter Stanford, “Pope Francis obituary”, in The Guardian

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveproceeding from or ordered by or subject to a pope or the papacy regarded as the successor of the Apostles

Similar
apostolicapostolicalpontifical
Also see
apostolicapostolicalpontificalroman catholic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Medieval Latinpāpālis“papal”
  2. Old Frenchpapal
  3. Middle Englishpapal
  4. Englishpapal

From Middle English papal, from Old French papal and Medieval Latin pāpālis (“papal”).

More words from Middle English, Old French, Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian папски
  • папски (papski)related to the pope or papacy
Catalan papal
  • papalrelated to the pope or papacy
Czech papežský
  • papežskýrelated to the pope or papacy
Danish pavelig
  • paveligrelated to the pope or papacy
Dutch pauselijk
  • pauselijkrelated to the pope or papacy
Esperanto papa
  • paparelated to the pope or papacy
Finnish paavillinen
  • paavillinenrelated to the pope or papacy
French papal
  • papalrelated to the pope or papacy
German päpstlich
  • päpstlichrelated to the pope or papacy
Hungarian pápai
  • pápairelated to the pope or papacy
Italian papale
  • papalerelated to the pope or papacy
Norwegian Bokmål pavelig
  • paveligrelated to the pope or papacy
Polish apostolski, papieski
  • apostolskirelated to the pope or papacy
  • papieskirelated to the pope or papacy
Portuguese papal
  • papalrelated to the pope or papacy
Russian па́пский
  • па́пский (pápskij)related to the pope or papacy
Spanish papal
  • papalrelated to the pope or papacy
Swedish påve-, påvlig
  • påve-related to the pope or papacy
  • påvligrelated to the pope or papacy

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with papal

maplestaplecapelantipapal
All rhymes →

Anagrams

appallappa
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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