# archbishop

/ˈɑɹtʃˈbɪʃəp/ (US) · /ˌɑːtʃbˈɪʃəp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/archbishop
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. religious leader

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a senior priest of high rank who is in charge of a large area in churches like the Catholic or Anglican church.

For teachers: a senior bishop who governs an archdiocese and typically presides over a province of several dioceses.

- The archbishop led the special service at the cathedral on Easter Sunday.
- The archbishop issued a formal statement addressing the ethical concerns raised by the new legislation, speaking on behalf of the entire province.

Usage: Capitalised as a title before a name, such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Teaching tip: While 'bishop' is B1/B2 level, 'archbishop' is rarer and usually appears in news or historical contexts.

## Examples

- The archbishop led the special service at the cathedral.
- After years of service in smaller parishes, he was appointed as the archbishop of the country's largest city.
- The coronation ceremony required the presence of the archbishop to perform the traditional anointing, a ritual that has remained largely unchanged for several centuries.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.