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Synonyms

archbishop

American  
[ahrch-bish-uhp] / ˈɑrtʃˈbɪʃ əp /

noun

  1. a bishop of the highest rank who presides over an archbishopric or archdiocese.

archbishop British  
/ ˈɑːtʃˈbɪʃəp /

noun

  1. Abbreviation: abp.   Abp.   Arch.   Archbp.  a bishop of the highest rank

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of archbishop

before 900; Middle English; Old English arcebisceop ( arce- arch- 1 + bisceop bishop ), modeled on Late Latin archiepiscopus < Greek archiepískopos; replacing Old English hēahbisceop ( high )

Vocabulary lists containing archbishop

Medieval Europe - Middle School

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Medieval Europe - High School

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During her installation as archbishop in late March, Dame Sarah similarly prayed for peace and justice to prevail in "all war-torn areas of the world".

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Other challenges the new archbishop will face are more familiar for leaders of the Church of England.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, criticized the White House’s social media channels for releasing material which he said cheapened the value of human life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Pope Leo XIV's newly announced visit to Algeria in April was welcomed as a dream come true by the archbishop of Algiers on Thursday.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

The priests had decided they could not wait forever for the pope and the archbishop to come around.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.