prelate

American  

[prel-it] / ˈprɛl ɪt /

noun

1. an ecclesiastic of a high order, as an archbishop, bishop, etc.; a church dignitary.

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prelate British  

/ prɪˈlætɪk, ˈprɛlɪt /

noun

1. a Church dignitary of high rank, such as a cardinal, bishop, or abbot

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Other Word Forms

• nonprelatic adjective
• prelateship noun
• prelatic adjective
• unprelatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of prelate

1175–1225; Middle English prelat < Medieval Latin praelātus a civil or ecclesiastical dignitary, noun use of Latin praelātus (past participle of praeferre to prefer ), equivalent to prae- pre- + lātus, suppletive past participle of ferre to bear ¹

Example Sentences

Tensions with Cardinal Burke, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, have been simmering for nearly a decade, with the American prelate openly criticising Pope Francis over both social and liturgical issues.

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2023

The diplomatic source said negotiations between the government and the country's Catholic bishops are ongoing over Alvarez's future, and that the formerly jailed prelate was currently at the Catholic episcopal compound in the capital.

From Reuters • Jul. 5, 2023

“Everyone knew there was a prelate who had become the cardinal of Buenos Aires, but it was something that the relatives knew, not everyone in town,’’ Cerrato said.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2022

The cardinal’s public confession followed last month’s disclosure that another prelate, Michel Santier, 75, had been removed as bishop of Creteil, near Paris.

From Washington Post • Nov. 13, 2022

The story of a prince who could not be killed, a priest who warned of a goddess’s wrath, a French prelate who believed he’d bought the same stone centuries later.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

• bishop