suffragan

1 of 2

noun

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

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 | [e-mail], 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

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