papacy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the government of the Roman Catholic Church
    pontificate.

WordNet

Pa"pa*cy noun
Etymology
LL. papatia, fr. L. papa a father, bishop. See Pope.
Definitions
  1. The office and dignity of the pope, or pontiff, of Rome; papal jurisdiction.
  2. The popes, collectively; the succession of popes.
  3. The Roman Catholic religion; -- commonly used by the opponents of the Roman Catholics in disparagement or in an opprobrious sense.

Webster 1913