suf·fra·gan
ˈsə-fri-gən 
-jən
1
: a diocesan bishop (as in the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England) subordinate to a metropolitan
2
: an Anglican or Episcopal bishop assisting a diocesan bishop and not having the right of succession
1
: of or being a suffragan
2
: subordinate to a metropolitan or archiepiscopal see
Examples of suffragan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2023
Mary Glasspool is consecrated as a suffragan bishop, the second openly gay person to be ordained as a bishop in the Episcopal church.
—CNN, 19 Aug. 2021
Earlier this year, her work earned her an appointment as a suffragan bishop.
—Talis Shelbourne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2019
Sloan was ordained as a suffragan, or assistant, bishop in 2008 for the diocese.
—Greg Garrison | Ggarrison@al.com, al, 2 Dec. 2019
The Rev. Barbara Harris The Rev. Barbara Harris, a retired bishop suffragan from Massachusetts, gave a rousing sermon.
—Dan Kane and Tim Funk, charlotteobserver, 15 July 2017
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland had elevated Cook to the position of bishop suffragan in May of 2014.
—Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, 9 May 2017
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland had elevated Cook to the position of bishop suffragan in May 2014.
—Jonathan M. Pitts, Washington Post, 9 May 2017
Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jan. 2025
As a suffragan bishop, Monica Parchia Price represents the entire state of Wisconsin.
—Talis Shelbourne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2019
He was consecrated as a bishop in 1962 and was named suffragan bishop, or assistant bishop, of the Chicago Episcopal diocese.
—Bob Goldsborough, chicagotribune.com, 25 Oct. 2019
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Noun
As bishop suffragan of the Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese, the Right Rev. Roy F. Cederholm — who always went by Bud — made environmental stewardship a calling for the state’s Episcopalians and for other houses of worship through his work with the nonprofit Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light.
—Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2023
Mary Glasspool is consecrated as a suffragan bishop, the second openly gay person to be ordained as a bishop in the Episcopal church.
—CNN, 19 Aug. 2021
Earlier this year, her work earned her an appointment as a suffragan bishop.
—Talis Shelbourne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2019
Sloan was ordained as a suffragan, or assistant, bishop in 2008 for the diocese.
—Greg Garrison | Ggarrison@al.com, al, 2 Dec. 2019
The Rev. Barbara Harris The Rev. Barbara Harris, a retired bishop suffragan from Massachusetts, gave a rousing sermon.
—Dan Kane and Tim Funk, charlotteobserver, 15 July 2017
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland had elevated Cook to the position of bishop suffragan in May of 2014.
—Jonathan M. Pitts, baltimoresun.com, 9 May 2017
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland had elevated Cook to the position of bishop suffragan in May 2014.
—Jonathan M. Pitts, Washington Post, 9 May 2017
Adjective
By 2000, he was elected suffragan bishop of Connecticut.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Jan. 2025
As a suffragan bishop, Monica Parchia Price represents the entire state of Wisconsin.
—Talis Shelbourne, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2019
He was consecrated as a bishop in 1962 and was named suffragan bishop, or assistant bishop, of the Chicago Episcopal diocese.
—Bob Goldsborough, chicagotribune.com, 25 Oct. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Suffragan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffragan. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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