suffragan

1 of 2

noun

suf·​fra·​gan ˈsə-fri-gən How to pronounce suffragan (audio)
-jən
1
: a diocesan bishop (as in the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England) subordinate to a metropolitan
2
: an Anglican or Episcopal bishop assisting a diocesan bishop and not having the right of succession

suffragan

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or being a suffragan
2
: subordinate to a metropolitan or archiepiscopal see

Examples of suffragan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
As bishop suffragan of the Massachusetts Episcopal Diocese, the Right Rev. Roy F. Cederholm — who always went by Bud — made environmental stewardship a calling for the state’s Episcopalians and for other houses of worship through his work with the nonprofit Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light. — Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin suffrāgāneus, suffrāgānus, noun derivative of suffrāgāneus, adjective, "serving in a subordinate capacity, subordinate to an archbishop or metropolitan" — more at suffragan entry 2

Adjective

Middle English syffrygane, borrowed from Medieval Latin suffrāgāneus, suffrāgānus "serving, assisting, serving in a subordinate capacity, subordinate to an archbishop or metropolitan," from suffrāgārī "to express support for, be of assistance, be subordinate" (going back to Latin, "to express public support for") + Latin -āneus "performing (the action of the verb)", from -ānus -an entry 2 + -eus -eous — more at suffrage

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suffragan was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

suffr
suffragan
suffraganship
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Cite this Entry

“Suffragan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suffragan. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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