adjective

1. of general scope or value; all-inclusive; universal
2. broad in sympathies, tastes, or understanding; liberal
3. of the Christian church as a whole; specif., of the ancient, undivided Christian church
4. of the Christian church headed by the pope; Roman Catholic
5. of any of the orthodox Christian churches, including the Roman, Greek Orthodox, Anglo-Catholic, etc., as distinguished from the Reformed or Protestant churches

Etymology: ME catholik < L catholicus, universal, general (in LL(Ec) & ML, orthodox, Catholic) < Gr katholikos < kata-, down, completely + holos, whole: see holo-

noun

1. a member of the universal Christian church
2. a member of any of the Catholic churches; esp., a Roman Catholic