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 documentary centers on an incident in 2018 when former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia collapsed on a park bench in the historic cathedral city of Salisbury, near Stonehenge. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 26 Feb. 2026

Kayakers explore hundreds of sea caves, including massive, cathedral-like chambers and breathtaking turquoise water. —Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026

Noun

In recent years, the cathedral has scheduled several Masses throughout the day, including early morning, midday and evening services, with overflow seating available to accommodate attendance. —Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026

God appeared once, Christianity twice, and cathedrals, but not the Mother of Parliaments in London. —Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 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