episcopal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, religious, academic
Quick answer
What does “episcopal” mean?
relating to or characteristic of a bishop or bishops.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
relating to or characteristic of a bishop or bishops.
pertaining to a church governed by bishops; specifically, relating to the Anglican Communion or Episcopal Church, where bishops hold a prominent hierarchical role.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'episcopal' is primarily an adjective meaning 'of bishops.' In US English, 'Episcopal' (capitalized) is strongly associated with the Episcopal Church (the US member of the Anglican Communion). The capitalisation is a key orthographic difference.
Connotations
UK: Primarily hierarchical church governance. US: Strong denominational identity (Protestant, liturgical, Anglican tradition).
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English due to the common use of 'Episcopal Church' as a proper noun. In UK English, terms like 'Anglican' or 'Church of England' are more common for the institution.
Grammar
How to Use “episcopal” in a Sentence
episcopal [noun] (e.g., episcopal consecration)[noun] is episcopal (e.g., the church government is episcopal)the Episcopal [proper noun] (e.g., the Episcopal Diocese)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “episcopal” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The Church of England has an episcopal structure.
- He was vested with episcopal authority.
American English
- She attends an Episcopal church in Boston.
- The Episcopal Diocese issued a new statement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, and history (e.g., 'episcopal polity of the early church').
Everyday
Rare, except for US speakers referring to the 'Episcopal Church'.
Technical
Specific term in ecclesiology (the study of church organization).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “episcopal”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “episcopal”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “episcopal”
- Capitalising when not referring to the specific church (e.g., 'the episcopal church' vs. 'the Episcopal Church').
- Confusing 'Episcopal' (US Anglican) with 'Episcopalian' (a member of that church).
- Pronouncing it as /ˌep.ɪˈskoʊ.pəl/ (misplaced stress).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Episcopal' is an adjective meaning 'of bishops' or relating to the Episcopal Church. 'Episcopalian' is a noun referring to a member or adherent of the Episcopal Church.
No. The Episcopal Church is the autonomous province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. The Church of England is the established church in England. They are in communion but are separate institutions.
Rarely. While it technically means 'of bishops,' its use is almost exclusively within Christian, particularly Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican, contexts. It is not typically applied to other religions.
The word is a learned borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin 'episcopālis.' Such Latinate terms often retain similar pronunciation across major English dialects, with stress on the second syllable.
relating to or characteristic of a bishop or bishops.
Episcopal is usually formal, religious, academic in register.
Episcopal: in British English it is pronounced /ɪˈpɪs.kə.pəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɪˈpɪs.kə.pəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the episcopal bench (collective term for bishops)”
- “apostolic succession (closely related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: EPISCOPAL = EPISCOPal. A 'bishop' (episcopus in Latin) is the 'PAL' or authority figure in this system.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHURCH AUTHORITY IS A HIERARCHY (episcopal structure visualised as a vertical chain of command).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'Episcopal' most likely to be capitalised?