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

Hicks’s relative youth and low profile make his elevation to big-city archbishop significant. —Paul Elie, New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2026

Bishop Ronald Hicks will officially assume his new title as New York's archbishop at a service Friday afternoon. —Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026

Born in Mexico, Gomez is the first Latino person to serve as archbishop of Los Angeles, and the highest-ranking Latino bishop in the United States, according to the church. —Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

The Holy Father is asking you to become archbishop of New York. —Timothy Cardinal Dolan, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026

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