English · Word Candidate

catholic

/ˈkæ.θ(ə.)lɪk/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: Catholics

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Universal; all-encompassing.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

toàn diện; bao quát

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

The church is catholic, universal, so are all her actions; all that she does, belongs to all.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

All-embracing.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

bao gồm tất cả

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

[…]a knowledge which should not only know at what particular spot in these mounds it should excavate, but, having excavated, would understand how to sift and use these materials properly, with a profoundly pious and reverential mind,—a knowledge not narrow, sectarian, one-sided, but catholic, human,

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Of the Western Christian church, as differentiated from e.g. the Orthodox church.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

thuộc giáo hội Kitô giáo Tây phương

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

Christmas is celebrated at different dates in the Catholic and Orthodox calendars.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Of the Western Christian church, as differentiated from e.g. the Orthodox church. — Of the Roman Catholic church in particular.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

thuộc giáo hội Công giáo Rôma

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Adjective

Examples

The Church of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic one.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “catholic” mean?

Universal; all-encompassing.

Is “catholic” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.