bishop

bish·op | \ ˈbi-shəp

Definition of bishop

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : one having spiritual or ecclesiastical supervision: such as

a : an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyman 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

Bishop

biographical name (1)

Bish·op | \ ˈbi-shəp

Definition of Bishop (Entry 2 of 3)

Elizabeth 1911–1979 American poet

Bishop

biographical name (2)

Definition of Bishop (Entry 3 of 3)

J(ohn) Michael 1936– American microbiologist

Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about bishop

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Did You Know?

The Old English word bisceop, from which we get our English word bishop, comes 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 “overseer,” was first used for officials in government, and later came to be used for church leaders. In the Bible, bishop and priest were used to identify the same thing. It was much later when a bishop became overseer of a large district, or diocese.

Examples of bishop in a Sentence

Noun the Bishop of New York

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The bishops did not single out any specific case of historical manipulation. — SFChronicle.com, "News of the Day From Around the World," 25 Jan. 2020 Chaput was also one several U.S. bishops who praised the integrity of leading Francis critic, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano. — Washington Post, "Cleveland bishop named Philadelphia’s next archbishop," 23 Jan. 2020 The only trouble is that as Dudley spends more time with Julia (Loretta Young), the titular bishop’s wife, the two can’t help but develop a romantic tenderness for each other — just as Kate and Tom fall for each other in Last Christmas. — Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, "13 classic holiday films to watch with their modern Christmas counterparts," 6 Dec. 2019 In Villa del Rosario hundreds of people line up for lunch at a communal kitchen operated by the local bishop. — The Economist, "Colombia’s unquiet border with Venezuela," 2 Nov. 2019 Stanley Choate, 75, the presiding bishop, was shot in the chest. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Parishioners find other sanctuaries after church shooting," 14 Oct. 2019 Zmirak claims that the article cites one papal encyclical and statements by the U.S. bishops rather than the catechism as authoritative, that is, binding on the conscience of faithful Catholics. — Ramesh Ponnuru, National Review, "Defending Amy Coney Barrett against the Right," 3 Oct. 2019 The story of Antony, a contemporary of Paul’s, is written by the Alexandrian bishop Athanasius, who describes how Antony was left burdened by caring for his sister after the death of his parents. — Kim Haines-eitzen, The Conversation, "The struggle to find silence in the ancient monastic world – and now," 10 June 2019 Catholic Vote is not connected to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, as the bishops of the U.S. Catholic Church have their own lobbying efforts. — Washington Post, "Christian advocates booked Trump hotel to coincide with White House briefing," 15 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bishop.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

6 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Bishop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bishop. Accessed 19 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for bishop

bishop

noun

English Language Learners Definition of bishop

: an official in some Christian religions who is ranked higher than a priest and who is usually in charge of church matters in a specific geographical area

: a piece in the game of chess that moves across the board at an angle

See the full definition for bishop in the English Language Learners Dictionary

bishop

noun

bish·op | \ ˈbi-shəp