cathedral

1 of 2

adjective

ca·​the·​dral kə-ˈthē-drəl 

1

: of, relating to, or containing a cathedra

2

: emanating from a chair of authority

3

: suggestive of a cathedral

a cathedral grove of redwoods

cathedral

2 of 2

noun

1

: a church that is the official seat of a diocesan bishop

2

: something that resembles or suggests a cathedral (as in size or importance)

a cathedral of business

the sports cathedral

Illustration of cathedral

• cathedral 1

Synonyms of cathedral

Noun

• tower
• palace
• edifice

Examples of cathedral in a Sentence

Noun

the company didn't want just a new office building—it demanded a cathedral that proclaimed its place among the giants of finance

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The strapless corset gown had a sheer illusion jacket embellished with pearls and was paired with a cathedral veil. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026

Last September a new museum opened in Miami’s oldest skyscraper, a Mediterranean Revival building from 1925 modeled after the majestic Giralda cathedral tower in Seville, Spain. — Ada Ferrer, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026

Noun

Look for museums, churches and cathedrals To escape the sun, tour guides recommend heading inside museums, churches and cathedrals, which tend to be cooler because of thick walls, high ceilings and, sometimes, air conditioning. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2026

It is presumed to have been commissioned by William the Conqueror’s half-brother, Bishop Odo, to adorn his new cathedral in Bayeux in 1077. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cathedral

• cathedral ceiling

Rhymes for cathedral

• anhedral
• dihedral
• euhedral
• subhedral
• icosahedral
• octahedral
• polyhedral
• rhombohedral
• tetrahedral

Kids Definition

cathedral

noun

ca·​the·​dral

kə-ˈthē-drəl

: the principal church of a district headed by a bishop