papist

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableoffensiveold-fashioned

   A hostile or insulting word for a Roman Catholic, used mainly by Protestants in earlier centuries.

   Grammar: Offensive today; appears mainly in history books and when quoting old sources.

   In Tudor England, the word papist was used as an accusation of disloyalty.

   Historians note that opponents called Catholics papists to portray them as foreign agents.

   The pamphlet attacked papists and their supposed plots.

2. 2adjectivebefore a nounoffensivearchaic

   Relating to the pope or to Roman Catholicism, in a hostile or dismissive way.

   Grammar: Historical and insulting; avoid except in quotations or discussion.

   The papist faction was viewed with suspicion at court.

   Old sermons warned against papist ceremonies.

   The writer's papist label shows his bias.

Word forms

Common combinations

accused of being a papist

He was accused of being a papist and lost his post.

papist plot

The Gunpowder Plot was described as a papist plot.

papist sympathies

The king was suspected of papist sympathies.

called a papist

She was called a papist by her enemies.

Synonyms and how they differ

Catholic

Catholic is the neutral modern term, while papist carries insult and hostility.

Romanist

Romanist is also a dated, hostile term but was somewhat less common than papist.

popish

Popish is the adjective form with the same hostile tone, used in old texts.

Opposites

Word family

papism noun

an old, hostile name for Catholic doctrine

papistry noun

an old insulting word for Catholic practices

papal adjective

relating to the pope

pope noun

the head of the Catholic Church

Commonly confused: papist or papal?

Practice

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