Archbishop

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ɑː(ɹ)tʃ.bɪʃ.É™p/
• US IPA: /ɑɹtʃ.bɪʃ.É™p/

Origin

From Middle English archebischop, from Old English ærċebischop ("archbishop"), from Latin archiepiscopus, from Ancient Greek ἀρχιεπίσκοπος, from -("first, chief", archi) + ἐπίσκοπος("overseer", episkopos), from ἐπισκοπέω (episkopeō, "I watch over"), from ἐπί("over", epi) + σκοπέω("I examine", skopeō), equivalent to - + bishop.

Full definition of archbishop

Noun

1. In the Roman Catholic Church and other churches, a senior bishop who is in charge of an archdiocese, and presides over a group of dioceses called a province.

Related terms

• archbishopdom
• archbishopric
• archbishopship
• archepiscopal
• bishop
• bishopric
• episcopal