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Archdiocese: meaning, definitions and examples

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archdiocese

 

[ ˌɑrtʃˈdaɪəsɪs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

religious organization

An archdiocese is a significant administrative division of the Catholic Church, overseeing multiple dioceses. It is headed by an archbishop who has the authority over the church's governance in their region. The archdiocese plays a crucial role in the spiritual and operational aspects of the church's mission, including the appointment of bishops and the administration of sacraments. It often represents larger urban centers or historically significant areas within the church hierarchy.

Synonyms

church district, diocese, ecclesiastical province

Examples of usage

  • The archdiocese held its annual fundraiser last week.
  • The archbishop of the archdiocese announced new initiatives for outreach.
  • Many parishes belong to the same archdiocese.

Translations

Translations of the word "archdiocese" in other languages:

🇵🇹 arquidiocese

🇮🇳 महाधर्मप्रांत

🇩🇪 Erzdiözese

🇮🇩 uskup agung

🇺🇦 архієпархія

🇵🇱 archidiecezja

🇯🇵 大司教区

🇫🇷 archidiocèse

🇪🇸 archidiócesis

🇹🇷 başpiskoposluk

🇰🇷 대교구

🇸🇦 أبرشية كبرى

🇨🇿 arci diecéze

🇸🇰 arcidiecéza

🇨🇳 大教区

🇸🇮 nadškofija

🇮🇸 arkidómes

🇰🇿 архиепархия

🇬🇪 არქიეპარქია

🇦🇿 arxiyepiskopluq

🇲🇽 archidiócesis

Etymology

The term 'archdiocese' is derived from the Greek prefix 'arch-', meaning 'chief' or 'principal', combined with 'diocese', which stems from the Latin 'diocesis', referring to a district or region under the jurisdiction of a bishop. The usage of the term begun around the 4th century AD as Christianity expanded and established more structured governance. As the church grew and became more organized, the need for higher levels of ecclesiastical authority became apparent. Consequently, the archdiocese was established to ensure that larger areas could be effectively supervised. Archdioceses are typically found in larger cities and they oversee the broader regional dioceses, implying a hierarchical structure within the Catholic Church. This structure reflects the church’s adaptation to societal growth and the spiritual needs of various communities.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,251 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.