suffragan

1 of 2

noun

suf·​fra·​gan ˈsə-fri-gən How to pronounce suffragan (audio)
-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

suffragan

2 of 2

adjective

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
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
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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suffragan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin suffrāgāneus, suffrāgānus, noun derivative of suffrāgāneus, adjective, "serving in a subordinate capacity, subordinate to an archbishop or metropolitan" — more at suffragan entry 2

Adjective

Middle English syffrygane, borrowed from Medieval Latin suffrāgāneus, suffrāgānus "serving, assisting, serving in a subordinate capacity, subordinate to an archbishop or metropolitan," from suffrāgārī "to express support for, be of assistance, be subordinate" (going back to Latin, "to express public support for") + Latin -āneus "performing (the action of the verb)", from -ānus -an entry 2 + -eus -eous — more at suffrage

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suffragan was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near suffragan

Cite this Entry

“Suffragan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffragan. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

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