archbishop

/ˌˈɑrtʃˌbɪʃəp/

/ɑtʃˈbɪʃəp/

Other forms: archbishops

Definitions of archbishop

1. noun

   a bishop of highest rank
   examples:

   Saint Anselm

   an Italian who was a Benedictine monk; was archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109; one of the founders of scholasticism; best known for his proof of the existence of God

   Saint Thomas a Becket

   (Roman Catholic Church) archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170; murdered following his opposition to Henry II's attempts to control the clergy (1118-1170)

   types:

   metropolitan

   in the Eastern Orthodox Church this title is given to a position between bishop and patriarch; equivalent to archbishop in western Christianity

   type of:

   bishop

   a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ