Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
suffragan

suffragan

1 9.9
A bishop who helps the main bishop in a church area called a diocese
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌfrəɡən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sufragáneo
  • The Church of England has bishops, both diocesan and suffragan, and archbishops (both in England being primates, one the Primate of England, the other the Primate of All England).
  • suffragan bishop
  • suffragan see
  • suffragan assistant

Examples

  • In a letter to the pope, Archbishop Manasses of Rheims had pleaded for his old suffragan bishop who was "at death's door."

    Academic text (2018)

  • His scholarly and pedagogical achievements were ultimately rewarded when he was promoted in 1628 to the position of suffragan bishop of Metz.

    Academic text (2013)

  • The congregation welcomed their new suffragan bishop during a special ceremony.

  • As a suffragan bishop, she assists the diocesan bishop with various church responsibilities.

  • The role of a suffragan bishop is critical in providing support to the leadership of the diocese.

Synonyms

suffragan bishop
vssuffragan
  • Specialized
9.9

A bishop who helps the main bishop of a diocese with church work

is the shorter single-word form for the same assisting church official

Compounds

suffragan bishop
  • Specialized
9.9

A bishop who helps the main bishop of a diocese with church work

Surface Forms

suffragan singular
suffragans plural

Etymology

Suffragan comes from the Latin suffragium, which means 'vote' or 'support' and is the same root as suffrage. So a suffragan is a bishop who 'supports' or helps the main diocesan bishop.