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

Accusations that emerged earlier against McCarrick, who served as the archbishop of Newark and Washington, D.C., helped fuel the latest wave of the abuse crisis in 2018, along with disclosures from a Pennsylvania grand jury showing hundreds of abusive clerics in that state. —Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Robert Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times, Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024

The cathedral’s thunderous organ, its 8,000-pipes painstakingly restored and cleaned of toxic dust, will also respond to the archbishop’s invocation, with four organists playing a variety of melodies. —Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 7 Dec. 2024

World & Nation Notre Dame Cathedral unveils its new interior 5 years after devastating fire Nov. 29, 2024 In response to the archbishop’s door-knocks, the cathedral will erupt into song, its choirs once again filling the cavernous spaces. —John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

Then, the archbishop will give a final blessing and the choir will sing Te Deum, a Latin hymn. —Christian Edwards, CNN, 5 Dec. 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