cathedral

American  

[kuh-thee-druhl] / kəˈθi drəl /

noun

• cathedrals
  plural

1. the principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's throne.

2. (in nonepiscopal denominations) any of various important churches.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or containing a bishop's throne.

2. pertaining to or emanating from a chair of office or authority.

cathedral British  

/ kəˈθiːdrəl /

noun

1. 1. the principal church of a diocese, containing the bishop's official throne

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cathedral city

      cathedral clergy

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cathedral ¹ Cultural  

1. A church building in which a Christian bishop has his official seat; cathedra is Latin for “chair.” Cathedrals are usually large and imposing, and many have been important in the development of architecture. The building of a cathedral, especially in the Middle Ages, was a project in which the entire town took part. (See Chartres; Notre Dame de Paris; and Saint Paul's Cathedral.)

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cathedral ² Cultural  

1. A Christian church building in which a bishop has his official seat (cathedra is Latin for “chair”). A cathedral is usually large and imposing, and many cathedrals are important in the history of architecture. (See Chartres, Notre Dame de Paris, and Saint Paul's Cathedral.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• cathedrallike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cathedrals
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of cathedral

1250–1300; Middle English < Late Latin cathedrālis ( ecclesia ) a cathedral (church). See cathedra, -al ¹

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Explanation

On a trip to Europe, many visitors appreciate the stunning architecture of large churches known as cathedrals. The word cathedral comes from a Latin word meaning “seat.” The seat referred to is the seat of the bishop, who is the leader of a group of churches related to the cathedral. The bishop’s seat is both a metaphor for the cathedral as the bishop’s “seat of power” and his actual chair, the "cathedra," inside the cathedral. Originally a cathedral was called a “cathedral church,” with cathedral as an adjective, but it is now a noun.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cathedral cathedrals

The Jewish Museum presents remarkable artifacts from the medieval cathedral and the Jewish community while highlighting both the prejudices and shared influences that shaped their making.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Standing outside the cathedral, Thomas Abood called the news "really difficult to take" after Pope Leo had brought a "new breath of hope."

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

The layout of the home is certainly unique, with an open-concept floor plan that’s heightened with cathedral ceilings and oversized windows.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

For safe-keeping, the flag is displayed in very low light, giving the chamber a sacred feel, like a cathedral crypt.

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026

At the end of the street I saw the cathedral and walked up toward it.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

I preferred the big cities—Pamplona, Logroño, Burgos, León—where I could limp into the town square and reward myself with museums, cathedrals, mushroom pinxtos or paella that could feed 35 people.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

We would be sipping ice-cold spritzes at cafés overlooking the Mediterranean, frolicking down cobblestone streets lined with charming boutiques, and marveling at the frescoes and marble sculptures adorning grand cathedrals.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

"I'm looking forward to visiting local churches, cathedrals and holy sites along the route - and to meeting people, praying with them and hearing their stories."

From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026

“What an incredible opportunity to elevate the sport in a city where you have one of the great cathedrals of the sport,” Wasserman told The Times last year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 12, 2026

Though Harry could see only a fraction of the immense gold walls surrounding the field, he could tell that ten cathedrals would fit comfortably inside it.

From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling

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