cathedral

American  

[kuh-thee-druhl] / kəˈθi drəl /

noun

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

• cathedrallike adjective

Etymology

Origin of cathedral

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

Example Sentences

In 2018, the UK said Russian double agent Sergei Skripal was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent in the British cathedral city of Salisbury.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

She is currently carrying out a six-day pilgrimage from St Paul's Cathedral in London to the cathedral - and is expected to arrive on Sunday.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

Period details include wood-beamed cathedral ceilings, stained-glass windows, built-ins, and custom millwork.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

That is how I see the elder Mr. Hughes—as a cathedral builder.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

It was such bad karma, the company sold it to some other hotel chain, and built a new hotel—a massive green Oz-like gambling cathedral.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman