Skip to main content
papism

papism

1 9.9
Beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church often used as an insult in the past
  • noun
  • /ˈpeɪpɪzəm/
  • Slur
translation icon : [término despectivo para el catolicismo]
  • Debates over papism intensified in Europe, as various factions vied for control over the interpretation of Christian doctrine.

Examples

  • During the Reformation, some leaders rallied against what they called papism to assert their own religious authority.

  • In the end, I do argue the social utility of religion and am obliged to since the existence of God can't be proved empirically, let alone "endowing" us with certain rights: John Adams, a papism-hater and generally hostile to organized religion and its dogma, wrote that as bad as religion is, the world would be even worse without it.

    Blog text (9)
  • Many critics of the 17th century accused the monarchy of promoting papism to undermine Protestantism.

Synonyms

4 3.9

A Christian religion led by the Pope in Rome

is a historical often offensive term opponents use for those beliefs and practices
papistic belief
vspapism
  • Archaic
9.9

A belief that the Pope has authority in the Roman Catholic Church

is used as an offensive historical label for such supportive doctrines

Compounds

A strong long-held belief in the Pope's authority

9.9

An increase in the Catholic Church's power in government

Surface Forms

papism singular
papisms plural

Morphology

papism = papist (semi-transparent) = pap + ism

Formation from the noun 'papist' to an -ism noun denoting the doctrine or practice of papists is a straightforward suffixation that speakers familiar with 'papist' can transparently interpret.

Etymology

Papism comes from the old word papa, meaning 'pope' or 'father', and the ending -ism, meaning 'belief' or 'practice'. So, papism refers to the beliefs and ways connected with the pope and was often used by people who were against the Roman Catholic Church as an insulting or old-fashioned term.