episcopal

1 of 2

adjective

epis·​co·​pal i-ˈpi-skə-pəl 

-bəl

1

: of or relating to a bishop

2

: of, having, or constituting government by bishops

3

capitalized : of or relating to the Protestant Episcopal Church representing the Anglican communion in the U.S.

episcopally

i-ˈpi-skə-p(ə-)lē 

adverb

Episcopal

2 of 2

noun

: episcopalian

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Established and state-regulated by the late fourth century, Christian sanctuary was based in episcopal intercession and penitential discipline; it was intended to spare the body the worst consequences of crime and thereby to save the soul from the everlasting implications of sin. —Rafil Kroll-zaidi, The New York Review of Books, 3 Nov. 2020

While Barron's episcopal office concerns his parishes in Minnesota — where he is already widely known — his public influence stretches around the world via his books, videos, radio shows and documentaries with his Word on Fire ministries. —Fox News, 28 Aug. 2022

Whitehead got out of the car, wearing a Fendi blazer and a large episcopal ruby ring. —Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2023

These prohibitions weren’t very effective; a thousand years later, astrologers were active at the papal and episcopal courts, and within the entourages of numerous Christian rulers. —Andrew Cockburn, Harper’s Magazine , 6 Jan. 2023

Pope Francis' episcopal philosophy has become more complicated than ever as the leader once commonly thought of as a solid progressive has become harder to categorize. —Fox News, 21 July 2022

All this made Cromwell a hero in the eyes of later Protestant Nonconformists, who admired him for his hostility to an episcopal church and for his championing of religious toleration. —Keith Thomas, The New York Review of Books, 8 June 2022

The ongoing invasion has spurred Orthodox bishops to separate from the patriarchate of Moscow and begin operating autocephalous episcopal sees. —Fox News, 4 June 2022

Pilla would apologize, but the scandal would be the most painful time of his episcopal ministry. —David Briggs, cleveland, 21 Sep. 2021

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Late Latin episcopalis, from episcopus bishop — more at bishop

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1752, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

episcopal

adjective

epis·​co·​pal i-ˈpis-kə-pəl 

1

: of or relating to a bishop or episcopacy

2

capitalized : of or relating to the Protestant Episcopal Church

episcopally

-p(ə-)lē 

adverb

Etymology

Adjective

derived from Latin episcopus "bishop," from Greek episkopos, literally, "overseer," from epi- "over" and skopos "watcher, goal, object" — related to bishop, horoscope, scope see Word History at bishop