diaconate

noun

di·​ac·​o·​nate dī-ˈa-kə-nət 

-ˌnāt, 

dē-

1

: the office or period of office of a deacon or deaconess

2

: an official body of deacons

Examples of diaconate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The diaconate represents the Church’s third degree of holy orders, below the presbyterate, or priests, and episcopate, or bishops. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025

Two commissions studying the question of women in the diaconate, keeping discernment alive even without doctrinal change. — Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 30 Nov. 2025

During the liturgical celebration, seminarian William O’Donnell, 25, will be ordained to the transitional diaconate. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2025

He was ordained to the diaconate in 1971 and to the priesthood in 1972. — Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2023

The role of female deacons likely ended in the 12th Century when the diaconate became a steppingstone to the priesthood, Stanton said. — Susan Degrane, chicagotribune.com, 30 Mar. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1751, in the meaning defined at sense 1