episcopacy

[ ih-pis-kuh-puh-see ]
/ ɪˈpɪs kə pə si /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR episcopacy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural e·pis·co·pa·cies.

government of the church by bishops; church government in which there are three distinct orders of ministers, namely bishops, priests or presbyters, and deacons.
episcopate.

Origin of episcopacy

First recorded in 1640–50; episcop(ate) + -acy

Words nearby episcopacy

episcleral, episcleral artery, episcleral space, episcleral vein, episcleritis, episcopacy, episcopal, episcopal church, episcopal church in america, episcopal vicar, episcopalian

Words related to episcopacy

see, diocese, episcopate

Example sentences from the Web for episcopacy

British Dictionary definitions for episcopacy

episcopacy
/ (ɪˈpɪskəpəsɪ) /

noun plural -cies

government of a Church by bishops
another word for episcopate