episcopal

[ ih-pis-kuh-puhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a bishop:

   episcopal authority.

2. based on or recognizing a governing order of bishops:

   an episcopal hierarchy.

3. (initial capital letter) designating the Anglican Church or some branch of it, as the Episcopal Church in America.

noun

1. (initial capital letter) Informal. an Episcopalian.

Episcopal

¹

/ ɪˈpɪskəpəl /

adjective

1. belonging to or denoting the Episcopal Church

episcopal

²

/ ɪˈpɪskəpəl /

adjective

1. of, denoting, governed by, or relating to a bishop or bishops

Derived Forms

• Eˈpiscopally, adverb
• eˈpiscopally, adverb

Other Words From

• e·pisco·pal·ly adverb
• none·pisco·pal adjective
• none·pisco·pal·ly adverb
• pseudo·e·pisco·pal adjective
• quasi-e·pisco·pal adjective
• quasi-e·pisco·pal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of episcopal¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Late Latin word episcopālis. See bishop, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of episcopal¹

C15: from Church Latin episcopālis, from episcopus bishop

Example Sentences

Leaders at St. Mary, an Episcopal church in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, are in the early stages of studying the idea.

From Los Angeles Times

She had suffered a stroke in November 2022 at her home in Minneapolis and spent a week in a hospital; afterward, when she arrived at Episcopal Homes in St. Paul for rehabilitation, she couldn’t walk.

From New York Times

Another $7,500 was given by the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane.

From Seattle Times

The African Methodist Episcopal Church, for example, is expected to vote at an upcoming national meeting on a measure which would allow AME pastors to conduct same-sex marriages.

From Seattle Times

But the UMC faces the same dire challenges as Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal and smaller mainline denominations that took similar routes.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• ecclesiastical
• ministerial
• monastic
• pastoral
• rabbinical