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

But there is still one more step in the long process of appointing the new archbishop. —Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Last night, Temple Emanu-El held a special Shabbat service honoring Timothy Cardinal Dolan, who retired last month after 16 years as the archbishop of New York. —Joshua M. Davidson, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026

The new archbishop succeeds Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who last month turned 80 and is past retirement age. —Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025

Since 2009, the larger-than-life leader has served as New York's archbishop, overseeing the second-largest archdiocese in the nation. —Jessica Moore, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025

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