Bishop

/ˈbɪʃəp/ name, noun, verb, slang

name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory.
  • Grammar: bishop is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: aaronic priesthood, abuna, antipope, apostle.
  • Useful contrasts: archbishop, laity, layperson.
  • Usage evidence: The bishop felt pity for the immigrants who were abandoned, and gave them help.

How to use "bishop"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bishop" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bishop" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bishop" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bishop" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "bishop" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "aaronic priesthood" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "bishop", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory.

    "King James of blessed memory said, no Bishop, no King: it was not he, but others that added, No Ceremony, no Bishop."

  2. 2
    Alternative letter-case form of bishop, particularly as a title or term of address. alt-of
  3. 3
    (chess) a piece that can be moved diagonally over unoccupied squares of the same color wordnet
  4. 4
    An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory.; A similar official or chief priest in another religion. nonstandard

    "The Caliphaes of the Sarasins were kings and chiefe bishops in their religion."

  5. 5
    A self-propelled 25-pounder vehicle produced by the United Kingdom during World War II, so called from a supposed resemblance to a bishop's miter.
Show 12 more definitions
  1. 6
    port wine mulled with oranges and cloves wordnet
  2. 7
    The holder of the Greek or Roman position of episcopus, supervisor over the public dole of grain, etc. obsolete

    "They gave away corn, not cash; and Cicero was made bishop, or overseer, of this public victualling."

  3. 8
    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 wordnet
  4. 9
    Any watchman, inspector, or overlooker. obsolete

    "There is no place we see privileged from temptations, no desert so solitary but the devil will seek it out; no pinnacle so high but the devil is a bishop over it, to visit and overlook it."

  5. 10
    A chief of the Festival of Fools or St. Nicholas Day.
  6. 11
    The chess piece denoted ♗ or ♝ which moves along diagonal lines and developed from the shatranj alfil ("elephant") and was originally known as the aufil or archer in English.

    "The Bishoppes some name Alphins, some fooles, and some name them Princes; other some call them Archers."

  7. 12
    Any of various African birds of the genus Euplectes; a kind of weaverbird closely related to the widowbirds.
  8. 13
    A ladybug or ladybird, beetles of the family Coccinellidae. dialectal

    "‘Bishop, Bishop-Barnabee, Tell me when my wedding shall be; If it be to-morrow day, Ope your wings and fly away."

  9. 14
    A flowering plant of the genus Bifora.
  10. 15
    A sweet drink made from wine, usually with oranges, lemons, and sugar; mulled and spiced port.

    "Well roasted, with Sugar and Wine in a Cup, They'll make a sweet Bishop."

  11. 16
    A bustle. US, archaic

    "If, by her bishop, or her 'grace' alone, A genuine lady, or a church, is known."

  12. 17
    A children's smock or pinafore. UK, archaic, dialectal

    "Here; tak him, an wesh him; an' put him a clen bishop on."

Verb
  1. 1
    To act as a bishop, to perform the duties of a bishop, especially to confirm another's membership in the church.

    "Se bisceop biþ gesett... to bisceopgenne cild."

  2. 2
    To murder by drowning. UK, colloquial, obsolete

    "I Burked the papa, now I'll Bishop the son."

  3. 3
    To act as a bishop, to perform the duties of a bishop, especially to confirm another's membership in the church.; To confirm (in its other senses). broadly, obsolete

    "Why sent they it by Felton to be bishoped at Paules?"

  4. 4
    To make a bishop.

    "1549, H. Latimer, 2nd Serm. before Kynges Maiestie, 5th Serm. sig. Pviv Thys hathe bene often tymes... sene in preachers before they were byshoppyd or benificed."

  5. 5
    To provide with bishops. rare

    "Italy would be well bishoped if her episcopacy... did not exceed fifty-nine."

Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    To permit food (especially milk) to burn while cooking (from bishops' role in the inquisition or as mentioned in the quotation below, of horses). UK, dialectal

    "If the porage be burned to, or the meate ouer rosted, we say the bishop hath put his foote in the potte or the bishop hath played the cooke, because the bishops burn who they lust and whosoever displeaseth them."

  2. 7
    To make a horse seem younger, particularly by manipulation of its teeth. broadly

    "1727, R. Bradley, Family Dict. at "Horse" This way of making a Horse look young is... called Bishoping."

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    An English surname originating as an occupation. countable
  2. 2
    A male given name transferred from the surname. countable
  3. 3
    A locale in the United States.; A city in Inyo County, California; named for nearby Bishop Creek, itself named for early settler Samuel Addison Bishop. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A locale in the United States.; A town in Oconee County, Georgia; named for local landowner W. H. Bishop. countable, uncountable
  5. 5
    A locale in the United States.; An unincorporated community in Forest City Township, Mason County, Illinois; named for landowner Henry Bishop. countable, uncountable
Show 4 more definitions
  1. 6
    A locale in the United States.; An unincorporated community in Worcester County, Maryland. countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    A locale in the United States.; A city in Nueces County, Texas; named for landowner F. Z. Bishop. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    A locale in the United States.; An unincorporated community in Tazewell County, Virginia and McDowell County, West Virginia, located on the state line. countable, uncountable
  4. 9
    A locale in the United States.; A ghost town in Whitman County, Washington; named for two early settlers. countable, uncountable

Example

"The bishop felt pity for the immigrants who were abandoned, and gave them help."

Common questions

What does "bishop" mean?

An overseer of congregations: either any such overseer, generally speaking, or (in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Anglicanism, etc.) an official in the church hierarchy (actively or nominally) governing a diocese, supervising the church's priests, deacons, and property in its territory.

What is a synonym for "bishop"?

Common synonyms include: aaronic priesthood, abuna, antipope, apostle, archbishop, archdeacon.

How do you use "bishop" in a sentence?

The bishop felt pity for the immigrants who were abandoned, and gave them help.

How do you pronounce "bishop"?

Pronounced /ˈbɪʃəp/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English bischop, bishop, bisshop, biscop, from Old English bisċop (“bishop”), from Proto-West Germanic *biskop, from Vulgar Latin (e)biscopus, from classical Latin episcopus (“overseer, supervisor”), from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos, “overseer”), from ἐπί (epí, “over”) + σκοπός (skopós, “watcher”), used in Greek and Latin both generally and as a title of civil officers. Cognate with all European terms for the position in various Christian churches; compare also Middle English bisp (“bishop”).

Etymology 2

Eponymous, from the surname Bishop.

Etymology 3

From bishop.

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