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episcopate

American  
[ih-pis-kuh-pit, -peyt] / ɪˈpɪs kə pɪt, -ˌpeɪt /

noun

  1. the office and dignity of a bishop; bishopric.

  2. the order or body of bishops.

  3. the incumbency of a bishop.

  4. the diocese of a bishop.


episcopate British  
/ ɪˈpɪskəpɪt, -ˌpeɪt /

noun

  1. the office, status, or term of office of a bishop

  2. bishops collectively

"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 episcopate

First recorded in 1635–45, episcopate is from the Late Latin word episcopātus the office of a bishop. See bishop, -ate 3

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.

"The Vatican has some problems in its communications with the French episcopate," the editorial said.

From Reuters • Feb. 18, 2022

Religion journalist Terry Mattingly of the GetReligion.org blog noted that Bishop Rohrer’s new episcopate is facing a sharp drop in “active participants,” down from 32,445 in 2012 to 25,043 in 2019.

From Washington Times • Sep. 15, 2021

The Maltese archbishop Charles Scicluna, a Vatican expert on paedophilia among the priesthood, will visit Poland next month, the Polish episcopate said on Thursday.

From The Guardian • May 17, 2019

The Polish episcopate and local bishop acknowledged the burning, but declined to comment, AFP reported.

From Fox News • Apr. 1, 2019

By 1851 the Colonial episcopate was fairly organized.

From Social Transformations of the Victorian Age A Survey of Court and Country by Escott, T. H. S. (Thomas Hay Sweet)