archbishop

noun

arch·​bish·​op (ˌ)ärch-ˈbi-shəp 

: a bishop at the head of an ecclesiastical province or one of equivalent honorary rank

Examples of archbishop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thomas Wenski, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami, asked for the decision to be reviewed in an April 16 opinion piece published to the organization’s website. —Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026

The first female Anglican priests were ordained in 1994, its first female bishop in 2015, and now Mullally as the first archbishop of Canterbury. —ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026

At that time, chrism oil is poured on the spoon, which the archbishop dips their finger into to anoint the monarch on their head, chest and hands. —Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026

Lori has been the archbishop of Baltimore since 2012. —William E. Lori, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English arcebiscop, from Late Latin archiepiscopus, from Late Greek archiepiskopos, from archi- + episkopos bishop — more at bishop

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

archbishop

noun

arch·​bish·​op (ˈ)ärch-ˈbish-əp 

: the bishop of highest rank in a group of dioceses