catholic

catholic — adjective

1. covering a very wide and varied range of things — for example, someone whose int

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

covering a very wide and varied range of things — for example, someone whose interests, reading, or knowledge includes art, science, history, and music all at once.

Example

The teacher had a catholic taste in music, enjoying everything from jazz to classical to folk.

catholic taste in + [broad field]

Priya's catholic reading habits meant her shelves held novels, biographies, and science texts side by side.

catholic + noun (right before noun)

Common collocations
  • catholic taste
  • catholic range
  • catholic in scope
  • catholic interests
  • catholic reading
Synonyms
  • eclectic

    more common and slightly more informal; 'eclectic' often implies deliberate selection from diverse sources

  • broad

    simpler and more general; 'broad interests' is a plain statement without the nuance of cultivated variety

  • wide-ranging

    more transparent in meaning; can describe both interests and physical scope

Antonyms
  • narrow

    limited in range; opposite of diverse or varied

  • restricted

    confined to a small set; suggests limitation rather than simple lack of variety

Grammar Patterns

catholic in + noun

catholic + noun

Usage Note

Distinguish from the capitalized form: 'Catholic' (capital C) refers to the Roman Catholic Church, while 'catholic' (lowercase) means broad or wide-ranging. When you write 'catholic taste,' the lowercase c is essential — capitalising it changes the meaning to a religious reference.

Common Mistakes

She has Catholic taste in films, watching both dramas and comedies.
She has catholic taste in films, watching both dramas and comedies.
Capital C 'Catholic' means 'related to the Catholic Church'; lowercase 'catholic' means 'wide-ranging.'

catholic — noun

Word family

  • Catholicism
    nounB2
  • catholicity
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that covers a lot of different types, but they differ in nuance and register. 'Catholic' (lowercase) is the most formal and least common in everyday speech; it often suggests cultivated, intellectual variety, as in 'catholic taste in literature.' 'Eclectic' is the most frequent alternative and implies deliberate selection from diverse sources — an eclectic music collection sounds curated. 'Broad' is the simplest and most versatile: 'broad interests' can describe anyone without the cultured connotation. 'Wide-ranging' is more transparent and can describe both concrete scope (a wide-ranging discussion) and abstract variety. Use 'catholic' for a refined, formal tone; 'eclectic' for a curated, stylish tone; 'broad' for neutral everyday language; and 'wide-ranging' when you want to emphasise the span rather than the mix.

catholic ↗eclectic ↗broad ↗wide-ranging

Common collocations

Nouns

Prepositions

  • in (e.g., catholic in scope)

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'catholicus' (universal, general), which came from Greek 'katholikos' (general, universal), formed from 'kata-' (concerning) + 'holos' (whole). The word entered English via Old French 'catholique' in the 14th century. The religious sense (referring to the universal Christian Church) appeared first, and by the 16th–17th centuries the broader, non-religious meaning of 'wide-ranging' had developed.