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Definition of holy see

holy see

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• noun

1

The sovereign ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, Italy, headed by the Pope and exercising territorial sovereignty over the independent enclave of Vatican City in Southern Europe, recognized under international law as a sovereign entity that maintains diplomatic relations and permanent observer status at the United Nations.

Synonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Although often used interchangeably with 'Vatican City' in everyday speech, the Holy See technically refers to the sovereign ecclesiastical jurisdiction and government of the Pope, whereas Vatican City is the physical territory over which the Holy See exercises sovereignty.

• Nearby Words

holstein
holster
holy
holy see
homage
hombre
home

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Holy see. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/holy-see
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