A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope.
Used in a Sentence
pontiffs
Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for pontiffs.
Editorial note
Unfortunately, in such issues, it is very fragmented and 'decentralized' with multiple different sects, castes, pontiffs etc.
Examples9
Definitions4
Parts of speech1
Quick take
A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of pontiffs gathered in one view.
A surname transferred from the nickname.
(figuratively) Any chief figure or leader of a religion.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for pontiffs.
noun
A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope.
noun
A surname transferred from the nickname.
noun
(figuratively) Any chief figure or leader of a religion.
noun
(historical, Ancient Rome) A member of the most illustrious of the colleges of priests of the Roman religion, the College of Pontiffs; a pontifex.
Example sentences
Unfortunately, in such issues, it is very fragmented and 'decentralized' with multiple different sects, castes, pontiffs etc.
The sheer momentum created by the pontiffs, academics and pundits on this subject who exhorted the virtues of layering architectures moved us into a blind alley.
And, yes, I'm aware that more recent pontiffs have expressed different views.
The link says: > My suspicion is that Pope Francis may have more to do with crafting his own speeches than did previous pontiffs, because Pope Francis’ talks strike me as more spontaneous, conversational, and unfiltered.
Even as someone who's deep in the skeptically agnostic camp on any questions about supreme creators (after all even a firm atheist can't be absolutely sure there is no genuine God) I had more respect for the apparent practical concern for humanity of this pope, particularly compared to the more typical nature of historical pontiffs.
[...] Subsequent pontiffs continued to exhort the episcopate and the whole body of the faithful to be on their guard against heretical writings, whether old or new; and one of the functions of the Inquisition when it was established was to exercise a rigid censorship over books put in circulation.
Quote examples
But litarally "Although the Roman Pontiffs have left nothing untried by which servitude be everywhere abolished among the nations, and although it is especially due to them that already for many ages no slaves are held among very many Christian peoples".
There is also the common refrain in today's tech world that things like the recently unveiled Meta's Project Orion are "like magic." Meanwhile, the Ivory Tower is not far removed from the college (a coincidental term I'm sure) of pontiffs at Rome.
Speaking of prohibition and the past, let's talk about the Index Librorum Prohibitorum and the Inquisition: "[...] Subsequent pontiffs continued to exhort the episcopate and the whole body of the faithful to be on their guard against heretical writings, whether old or new; and one of the functions of the Inquisition when it was established was to exercise a rigid censorship over books put in circulation.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use pontiffs in a sentence?
Unfortunately, in such issues, it is very fragmented and 'decentralized' with multiple different sects, castes, pontiffs etc.
What does pontiffs mean?
A bishop of the early Church; now specifically, the Pope.
What part of speech is pontiffs?
pontiffs is commonly used as noun.