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

Etymology

Origin of cathedral

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

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

They broke into cheers and applause, cheered again when the eclipse ended, and once more an hour later when the sun set, a burnished ocher illuminating Léon’s cathedral.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

In Manizales, an AFP journalist saw many damaged buildings, including the crumpled tower of the city's beloved neo-Gothic cathedral.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

While the funeral will also be open to the public, access inside the cathedral will be limited, given the numbers expected.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

It was probably commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux -- William the Conqueror's half-brother -- in 1077 to decorate the new cathedral in his hometown, Bayeux, according to the tapestry's home museum.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

I walk along the path, and growing up in front of me is the cathedral, spiraling towers reaching high for the sky.

From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender

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

The model is one of four to have been made from Lego bricks alongside similar builds at Durham, Exeter and Chester cathedrals.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

It’s a tribute to the medieval craftsmen who built Europe’s glorious cathedrals, but also a reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 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

Composers of the fourteenth century were inspired by the runting acoustics of the astounding cathedrals in which they worked.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall