states of the church: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Specialized Historical/Academic)Formal, Historical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “states of the church” mean?
The territories in central Italy governed by the Pope from the 8th century until 1870.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The territories in central Italy governed by the Pope from the 8th century until 1870; also called the Papal States.
A historical geopolitical entity representing the temporal power of the papacy, distinct from its spiritual authority.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term identically for the historical entity. UK sources might more frequently use 'Papal States' as a synonym.
Connotations
Historical, geopolitical, related to European power structures and the temporal authority of the Catholic Church.
Frequency
Very low in general discourse; appears almost exclusively in historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “states of the church” in a Sentence
The N (States of the Church) + V (existed/were annexed/grew)During the N (period/century), the States of the Church...The annexation of the N (States of the Church) by...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “states of the church” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The diplomat was posted to the States of the Church in the 1850s.
- Garibaldi's campaign threatened the stability of the States of the Church.
American English
- The artist received a commission from the States of the Church.
- A treaty was signed between France and the States of the Church.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, and political science contexts discussing church-state relations and Italian history.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in historical geography and documents pertaining to pre-1870 Italy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “states of the church”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “states of the church”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “states of the church”
- Using 'State of the Church' (singular). It's plural 'States'.
- Confusing it with the modern Vatican City State, which is its much smaller successor.
- Using it to refer to any state with an official religion.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Vatican City, established in 1929, is a tiny independent city-state and the successor to the temporal power of the much larger States of the Church, which ceased to exist in 1870.
Because the territory was composed of several distinct regions or provinces (e.g., Romagna, the Marche, Umbria, Lazio) under a single sovereign, similar to how 'the United States' is plural.
No, it is purely a historical term. Modern discussions about the Pope's political role refer to the 'Holy See' (his diplomatic entity) or 'Vatican City State' (his territorial base).
'Papal States' is the most common and direct synonym in English-language historiography.
The territories in central Italy governed by the Pope from the 8th century until 1870.
States of the church is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
States of the church: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪts əv ðə ˈtʃɜːtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsteɪts əv ðə ˈtʃɜrtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The loss of the States of the Church (refers to the end of papal temporal power)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'States' as in political states (like countries) that belonged to 'the Church' (the Catholic Church under the Pope).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CHURCH IS A TEMPORAL KINGDOM (A conceptualization of spiritual authority also holding earthly, governmental power).
Practice
Quiz
What historical event marked the end of the States of the Church as a significant territorial entity?