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Meaning & use

catholic

adjective, noun·Advanced

Last updated

UK/ˈkæθlɪk/
US/ˈkæθlɪk/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Having a wide range of interests, tastes, or sympathies; broad and all-embracing.

    Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: her catholic tastes; his reading is catholic.

    Patterns

    • catholic tastes
    • catholic interests
    • catholic in something

    Her catholic taste in music ranges from opera to hip-hop.

    He has a catholic approach to reading, enjoying everything from science fiction to history.

    The magazine's catholic coverage appeals to readers with many different interests.

  2. adjectivenot comparable

    Relating to the Roman Catholic Church or its beliefs and practices.

    Grammar: Usually capitalized as Catholic when referring to the church; it is not used in the comparative form.

    Patterns

    • Catholic church
    • Catholic faith
    • Catholic school

    She was raised in a Catholic family and attended Mass every Sunday.

    The Catholic Church has a long history in this region.

    He studied at a Catholic university in the Midwest.

  3. nouncountable

    A member of the Roman Catholic Church.

    Grammar: Capitalized as Catholic; plural is Catholics. Often used with 'a' or in the plural.

    Patterns

    • a Catholic
    • devout Catholic
    • Catholics and Protestants

    My neighbor is a devout Catholic who goes to church daily.

    Catholics make up a large part of the population in that country.

    As a Catholic, she follows the teachings of the Pope.

Word forms

comparativemore catholic
superlativemost catholic

Common combinations

catholic tastes
His catholic tastes in literature include both classics and comic books.
catholic in
She is catholic in her reading habits, never sticking to one genre.
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church has millions of followers worldwide.
devout Catholic
He is a devout Catholic who attends Mass every morning.

Synonyms and how they differ

universal
Universal means affecting or done by all people or things; catholic emphasizes wide-ranging interests or sympathies, often in a more personal sense.
broad
Broad means covering a large area or range; catholic is more formal and suggests a deliberate openness to many different things.
eclectic
Eclectic means drawing ideas from a broad range of sources; catholic is similar but often implies a more inclusive, tolerant attitude.

Opposites

narrowlimitedprovincial

Word family

Catholicism noun
The beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
catholicity noun
The quality of being broad-minded or universal.

Commonly confused: catholic or Catholic?

catholic vs Catholic

Capitalized Catholic refers to the Roman Catholic Church; lowercase catholic means broad-minded or wide-ranging. The meaning changes with capitalization.

Practice

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