pontiff

noun

pon·​tiff ˈpän-təf How to pronounce pontiff (audio)
1
: pontifex
2
: bishop
specifically, often Pontiff : pope sense 1

Examples of pontiff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pope Leo won't be the only VIP in Spain this weekend, a fact the pontiff knows all too well. — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 6 June 2026 The pontiff has been given the baseball from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. — CBS News, 25 June 2026 Amid the hullabaloo of his first trip to the United States as pontiff, Pope Francis suddenly asked his driver to stop. — Julie Z. Weil, Washington Post, 13 June 2026 The Vatican’s stance has become a more direct point of tension under Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff. — Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pontiff

Word History

Etymology

French pontif, from Latin pontific-, pontifex

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of pontiff was in 1552

Browse Nearby Words

pontifex
pontiff
pontific
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pontiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pontiff. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pontiff

noun
pon·​tiff ˈpänt-əf How to pronounce pontiff (audio)
: bishop sense 1
especially, often capitalized : pope
pontifical
pän-ˈtif-i-kəl
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on pontiff

Nglish: Translation of pontiff for Spanish Speakers

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