plural bishops
1
: someone having spiritual or ecclesiastical supervision over others: such as
a
: an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyperson ranking above a priest, having authority to ordain and confirm, and typically governing a diocese
b
: any of various Protestant clerical officials who superintend other clergy
c
: a Mormon high priest presiding over a ward or over all other bishops and over the Aaronic priesthood
2
: either of two pieces of each color in a set of chessmen having the power to move diagonally across any number of adjoining unoccupied squares
3
: mulled port wine flavored with oranges and cloves
Examples of bishop in a Sentence
the Bishop of New York
Recent Examples on the Web
They are set to be bailed out in two days, and the colony’s bishop demands that the victims forgive them—or else face excommunication and be denied a spot in heaven.
—
Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024
Pope Francis has made significant changes to the funeral rites that will be observed upon his death, streamlining the rituals to reflect his role as a bishop rather than focusing on his papal status.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
Once Grob is installed, three of those dioceses will be led by bishops who are Wisconsin natives.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024
In its first annual report, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors surveyed safeguarding protocols from bishops in 17 different parts of the world, along with how the Church’s central administration processes cases.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
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Ruth Madievsky, The Atlantic, 20 Nov. 2024
Pope Francis has made significant changes to the funeral rites that will be observed upon his death, streamlining the rituals to reflect his role as a bishop rather than focusing on his papal status.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
Once Grob is installed, three of those dioceses will be led by bishops who are Wisconsin natives.
—Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024
In its first annual report, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors surveyed safeguarding protocols from bishops in 17 different parts of the world, along with how the Church’s central administration processes cases.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bishop
Dictionary Entries Near bishop
Cite this Entry
“Bishop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bishop. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bishop
noun
bish·op
ˈbish-əp 
1
: a high-ranking member of various sects of the Christian clergy usually in charge of a diocese
2
: a chess piece that moves diagonally
Etymology
Old English bisceop "bishop," from Latin episcopus (same meaning), from Greek episkopos, literally, "overseer," from epi- "on, over" and skopos "watcher, goal, object" — related to episcopal, horoscope, scope
Word Origin
The Old English word bisceop, from which we get our modern English word bishop, comes to us from the Latin word episcopus. Like many other Latin words connected with religion and the church, this was borrowed from Greek, the language in which the New Testament was written. The Greek word episkopos, meaning literally "overseer," was first used of officials in government and later came to be used for church leaders. In the Bible the word meaning "bishop" and the word meaning "priest" were used for the same thing. It was not until much later that the bishop did indeed become overseer of a large district, or diocese.
Biographical Definition
Bishop
2 of 2biographical name (2)
J(ohn) Michael 1936– American microbiologist
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