archbishop

noun

arch·​bish·​op (ˌ)ärch-ˈbi-shəp 

: a bishop at the head of an ecclesiastical province or one of equivalent honorary rank

Examples of archbishop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mahony, the archbishop of Los Angeles for more than two decades, was a youthful and high-profile leader who used his position atop the diocese in the 1980s and 1990s to champion social and economic justice, among other causes large and small. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024

The cardinals will be formally installed by Francis on December 8 with the archbishop of Toronto, Frank Leo, and a British theologian, friar Timothy Radcliffe, also among them. —Christopher Lamb, CNN, 6 Oct. 2024

The archdiocese said Tuesday the archbishop was alert and in good spirits. —Melissa Renteria, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Oct. 2024

Castro was among those arrested but was spared execution after appeals for leniency by an archbishop with ties to his family. —Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 6 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English arcebiscop, from Late Latin archiepiscopus, from Late Greek archiepiskopos, from archi- + episkopos bishop — more at bishop

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

archbishop

noun

arch·​bish·​op (ˈ)ärch-ˈbish-əp 

: the bishop of highest rank in a group of dioceses