autocephalous

[ aw-tuh-sef-uh-luh s ]
/ ˌɔ təˈsɛf ə ləs /

adjective Eastern Church.

(of a church) having its own head or chief bishop, though in communion with other Orthodox churches.
(of a bishop) subordinate to no superior authority; self-governing.

Origin of autocephalous

First recorded in 1860–65, autocephalous is from the Late Greek word autoképhalos having its own head. See auto-1, -cephalous

Words nearby autocephalous

autobiography of alice b. toklas, the, autobus, autocade, autocatalysis, autocatharsis, autocephalous, autocephaly, autochanger, autochrome, autochthon, autochthonous

Example sentences from the Web for autocephalous

British Dictionary definitions for autocephalous

autocephalous
/ (ˌɔːtəʊˈsɛfələs) /

adjective

(of an Eastern Christian Church) governed by its own national synods and appointing its own patriarchs or prelates
(of a bishop) independent of any higher governing body

Derived forms of autocephalous

autocephalic (ˌɔːtəʊsɪˈfælɪk), adjective autocephaly, noun