as in presbytery
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Recent Examples of episcopate
The diaconate represents the Church’s third degree of holy orders, below the presbyterate, or priests, and episcopate, or bishops.
—
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
Vatican observers have long speculated that Francis saw Prevost as a potential successor, especially given his rapid rise and central role in shaping the modern episcopate.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
The selection of Bishop McElroy, whose diocese has never been led by a cardinal, sends a message about the pope’s wish for a more liberal orientation for the U.S. episcopate.
—Francis X. Rocca, WSJ, 29 May 2022
The Curia is also seriously underfunded and understaffed for the duties it is supposed to carry out, including the selection, vetting, appointment, and supervision of an episcopate that today consists of more than 5,000 Catholic bishops around the world.
—Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
Vatican observers have long speculated that Francis saw Prevost as a potential successor, especially given his rapid rise and central role in shaping the modern episcopate.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
The selection of Bishop McElroy, whose diocese has never been led by a cardinal, sends a message about the pope’s wish for a more liberal orientation for the U.S. episcopate.
—Francis X. Rocca, WSJ, 29 May 2022
The Curia is also seriously underfunded and understaffed for the duties it is supposed to carry out, including the selection, vetting, appointment, and supervision of an episcopate that today consists of more than 5,000 Catholic bishops around the world.
—Massimo Faggioli, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for episcopate
Noun
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Casa Carolina Hotel What was originally the presbytery of the Santa Catalina de Alejandría Cathedral is now one of Cartagena's newest boutique hotels, Casa Carolina.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Jan. 2026
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Inside Brixworth Church The choir, or presbytery—the heart of the church—is separated from the nave by a large arch.—
David Nikel,
Forbes,
29 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The diaconate represents the Church’s third degree of holy orders, below the presbyterate, or priests, and episcopate, or bishops.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
5 Dec. 2025
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Two commissions studying the question of women in the diaconate, keeping discernment alive even without doctrinal change.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
30 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But talking about identity has ever-shifting rules and hierarchies that amount to bear-traps that can spring at any time.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
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Would another defeat at Spurs change the hierarchy’s view on his position?—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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They were seen by the clergy, for example, to be distracted by chocolate, drinking it and gossiping instead of paying attention to mass.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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Attempt to add clergy fails Earlier Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee voted 8-3 to defeat a bill that would have added clergy to the list of mandatory reporters.—
Seth Tupper & John Hult,
States Newsroom,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Episcopate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/episcopate. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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