diocese

noun

di·​o·​cese ˈdī-ə-səs How to pronounce diocese (audio)
-ˌsēs,
-ˌsēz
plural dioceses ˈdī-ə-sə-səz How to pronounce diocese (audio)
-ˌsē-zəz,
 nonstandard  ˈdī-ə-ˌsēz
: the territorial jurisdiction of a bishop
diocesan
dī-ˈä-sə-sən How to pronounce diocese (audio)
 also  ˈdī-ə-ˌsē-sᵊn
adjective

Examples of diocese in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Candidates for archbishop are typically a bishop at a smaller diocese, an auxiliary bishop from another archdiocese, or a prominent priest within the archdiocese. Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 The Vatican said Francis named the bishop of Austin, Texas, Joe Vasquez, as the interim administrator of the Tyler diocese. Reuters, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2023 In a Catholic diocese, a cathedral serves as the bishop's home church and the site of important religious events for the diocese such as the ordination of new priests and the annual Chrism Mass, where the oils used in sacraments throughout the diocese are blessed, traditionally on Holy Thursday. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 In the 20 years since scandals involving abusive priests erupted across the country, the archdiocese, along with Catholic dioceses across the country, have instituted new policies to deal with allegations of abuse, which include mandatory reporting to local police and prosecutors. Dan Horn, The Enquirer, 9 Feb. 2024 The diocese leaders also overruled the counselor’s recommendation that Ramos not be placed back into the ministry, the counselor wrote in her statement. Sean Emery, Orange County Register, 26 Jan. 2024 The diocese oversees 31 Catholic schools, including early childhood education centers in Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs and Independence. J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2024 Attorneys for the men who sued Washington diocese fired back in December, saying the church’s interpretation of the law was misguided. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2024 That project fell through, and the diocese bought the property in 2020. Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diocese.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diocise, dyoces, borrowed from Anglo-French diocise, dyocés, borrowed from Late Latin diocēsis, dioecēsis "administrative district, province, group of provinces (in the later Roman Empire), jurisdiction of a bishop" (Latin, "administrative district"), borrowed from Late Greek dioíkēsis "administration, control, ordering, civil or ecclesiastical group of provinces, jurisdiction of a bishop," going back to Greek, "management, administration," from dioikē-, variant stem of dioikéō, dioikeîn "to control, manage, look after" (from di- di- + oikeîn "to live, have one's home, order, govern," derivative of oîkos "house, home") + -sis -sis — more at vicinity

Note: In early Modern English diocise, passed on from Middle English, competed unsuccessfully with the Latin/French-influenced forms diocess and diocese. The variant diocess was predominant in the eighteenth century and is the only form entered in Samuel Johnson's dictionary (1755). The situation had changed, at least in the U.S., by the early nineteenth century: Noah Webster, in his American Dictionary of the English Language (1828), enters only diocese, and regards diocess as "a very erroneous orthography."

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diocese was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near diocese

Cite this Entry

“Diocese.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diocese. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

diocese

noun
di·​o·​cese ˈdī-ə-səs How to pronounce diocese (audio)
-ˌsēz,
-ˌsēs
plural dioceses ˈdī-ə-ˌsēz How to pronounce diocese (audio)
-ˌsē-zēz,
-sə-səz
: the district over which a bishop has authority

More from Merriam-Webster on diocese

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