episcopacy

plural episcopacies

1. countableuncountableThe office of bishop and the governance of a church (a religious denomination) by bishops.

   Near-synonyms: bishopric, bishopry, bishopdom, bishopship, bishophood, archbishopric, archbishopry, archbishopdom, archbishopship, archbishophood

   1 more example

   Further religious division occurred during the post-Restoration decades in the reign of Charles II, when strenuous and violent efforts were made by the Government to impose an episcopacy on the Scottish Church.

   2009, John Sadler, Glencoe, Amberley, published 2009, page 16

   Synonyms: bishopric, bishopry, bishopdom, bishopship, bishophood, archbishopric, archbishopry, archbishopdom

2. countableuncountableBishops collectively: Synonym of episcopate.

   Near-synonyms: bishopric, bishopry, bishopdom, bishopship, archbishopric, archbishopry, archbishopdom, archbishopship

   Synonyms: bishopric, bishopry, bishopdom, bishopship, archbishopric, archbishopry, archbishopdom, archbishopship