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Showing results for archbishop. Search instead for archonship.
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

"I am sent as archbishop to serve you, to proclaim the love of Christ and with you to worship and love him with heart and soul, mind and strength," she responded.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

The Prince and Princess of Wales will be part of the congregation representing King Charles, and will see Dame Sarah's first sermon as archbishop.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

After a warm greeting, he told me that Pope Leo XIV was appointing me archbishop of New York.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

It was too whimsical a sighting for the archbishop to pronounce as authentic, but still.

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.