Definition of prelate
: an ecclesiastic (such as a bishop or abbot) of superior rank
Explore M-W
Recent Examples of prelate from the Web
-
While criminal charges have been brought against more than 100 priests in Australia alone, few senior Catholic prelates around the world have been brought to account.
-
How many prelates stood up when an imam and his assistant were murdered in Queens, or when a mosque was burned in Florida?
-
At the Council of Clermont, in 1095, Pope Urban II addressed a crowd of prelates, knights, and nobles—the leaders of the Latin West.
-
Bishop Farrell is among the few prelates in the United States to issue emphatic pleas for gun control, a surprising move for a bishop based in the open-carry state of Texas.
-
Massimo Franco, a columnist for Corriere della Sera, a national newspaper, wrote recently that Francis apparently canceled a meeting with Cardinal Bagnasco after the Italian prelate went public with his support for the opposition rally.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prelate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other Christian Religious Terms
PRELATE Defined for English Language Learners
prelate
playDefinition of prelate for English Language Learners
-
: a high-ranking Christian priest : a bishop, cardinal, etc.
Learn More about prelate
-
See words that rhyme with prelate Spanish Central: Translation of prelate Nglish: Translation of prelate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of prelate for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prelate
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up prelate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!