Meanings
plural pastorates
- The role or responsibilities of a pastor.
The old pastor found his pastorate wearying, and longed to retire.
- The period of service of a particular pastor to their congregation; their term of office.
His pastorate had been marked by several changes in church policy with regards to community outreach.
- An organization or body consisting of multiple pastors.
At the denomination's annual conference, the pastorate had passed a bylaw prohibiting members from performing online marriage ceremonies.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From pastor + -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office, a body of people involved with it).
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
pastorate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pastorate
“pastorate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pastorate. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pastorate,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pastorate.
Source: pastorate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.