antipope
|an-ti-pope|
🇺🇸
/ˈæn.təˌpoʊp/
🇬🇧
/ˈæn.tɪpəʊp/
pope's rival
Etymology
'antipope' originates from Medieval Latin 'antipapa', formed from Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and Latin/Greek 'papa' (from Greek 'pappas') meaning 'father' or 'pope'.
'antipapa' appeared in Late/Medieval Latin and related Romance-language usages and entered English as Middle English 'antipope', eventually becoming the modern English 'antipope'.
Initially it meant 'a person appointed or set up in opposition to the pope'; over time it has retained this specific meaning referring to rival claimants to the papacy.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who, in opposition to the pope generally recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, makes a substantially accepted competing claim to the papal office.
An antipope claimed the papacy during the schism.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/07 13:46