Papist is a slur referring to "Roman Catholics". It was coined during the English Reformation to indicate one who believed in Papal supremacy over all Christians. Over time, as the political nature of the struggle between Protestants and Roman Catholics became heated, it became a pejorative for Roman Catholics. The word ultimately derives from Latin papa, meaning "Pope". "Popish" is an adjective used much in the same vein.

While considered offensive in contemporary speech, it was a word in ordinary use until the mid-nineteenth century; it occurs frequently in Macaulay's History of England from the Accession of James II, and in other historical

The word is still used by some extremist politicians in the UK (particularly Northern Ireland), such as Ian Paisley.

A derivative pejorative term Apist is used to describe Anglo-Catholics who ape or copy the practices of the Roman Catholics.

See also

• Popery
• Mackerel Snapper
• Anti-Catholicism

Papist