Word
prelate
US/ˈpɹɛɫɪt/
UK/pɹˈɛlət/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a high leader in a Christian church, such as a bishop, cardinal, or abbot. You use this word for senior officials who have authority over other priests.
n. a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy with authority over other clergy, such as a bishop, archbishop, cardinal, or abbot.
Examples
“The prelate visits our church every spring.”
“The prelate meets with local priests to discuss the restoration of the old cathedral.”
“The aging prelate, respected for decades of quiet diplomacy between rival dioceses, delivered a farewell address that balanced tradition with cautious calls for reform.”
Examples
simple
“The prelate visits our church every spring.”
contextual
“The prelate meets with local priests to discuss the restoration of the old cathedral.”
complex
“The aging prelate, respected for decades of quiet diplomacy between rival dioceses, delivered a farewell address that balanced tradition with cautious calls for reform.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “prelate” in context.
Verb
01. appeal to prelate
“Local clergy appealed to the prelate to intervene in the dispute.”
verb + prep + noun
02. appoint prelate
“The Pope will appoint a new prelate to oversee the vacant diocese.”
verb + noun
03. consecrate prelate
“He was consecrated prelate in a solemn ceremony at the cathedral.”
verb + noun
04. depose prelate
“The king attempted to depose the prelate for opposing royal taxation.”
verb + noun
05. install prelate
“Thousands gathered to see the new archbishop installed as prelate.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. catholic prelate
“The Catholic prelate urged reconciliation after years of sectarian tension.”
adj + noun
07. high-ranking prelate
“A high-ranking prelate from the Vatican will attend the consecration.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. college of prelates
“The college of prelates convened to elect a new abbot primate.”
noun + prep + noun
09. a senior catholic prelate
“A senior Catholic prelate called for dialogue between the rival factions.”
10. appointed prelate to diocese
“He was appointed prelate to a troubled diocese in the north.”
11. council of senior prelates
“The council of senior prelates rejected the proposed liturgical reforms.”
12. high-ranking vatican prelate
“A high-ranking Vatican prelate will visit the refugee camps next week.”
Real-World Examples
“Tensions with Cardinal Burke, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, have been simmering for nearly a decade, with the American prelate openly criticising Pope Francis over both social and liturgical issues.” “Following the death of Francis, many observers within the Vatican identified Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino prelate Luis Antonio Tagle as leading candidates, with a range of additional potential nominees trailing behind.” “Assuming the new cardinals are appointed, Pope Francis will have selected almost 60% of prelates during his tenure, according to the National Catholic Reporter .” Etymology
From Old French prelat (French prélat), from Medieval Latin praelātus, perfect passive participle of praeferō (“to carry before, prefer, exceed”), see -ate (noun-forming suffix). Doublet of prefer. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/prelate