bishopric

/ˈbɪʃəprɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbɪʃəprɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbi-shə-(ˌ)prik/ (ame, mw)

bishopric — noun

  • bishopricsingular
  • bishopricsplural

1. the length of time during which a particular person serves as a bishop in a chur

1.名詞C1
釋義

the length of time during which a particular person serves as a bishop in a church

例句

Bishop Thomas Nguyễn's twenty-year bishopric saw the opening of twelve new schools and a hospital.

[Name]'s bishopric of [number] years — duration pattern with possessive

Amara's bishopric began in 2018 after the sudden death of her predecessor.

同義詞
  • tenure

    more general term for any official position; bishopric is specific to bishops

  • term of office

    formal equivalent; bishopric is shorter and more specific

文法句型

[possessive] bishopric

bishopric of [number] years

用法筆記

Frequently appears with a possessive or genitive ('her bishopric', 'Bishop Wei's bishopric') to tie the period to a specific person. The phrase 'during [possessive] bishopric' makes the time sense explicit — distinguish from sense 2 (DIOCESE), which refers to a geographical area.

常見錯誤

❌The bishopric of Durham from 2010 to 2025 was a time of growth.
✅The bishopric of Bishop Thomas from 2010 to 2025 was a time of growth.
💡'bishopric of [place]' usually signals territory (sense 2); for a time period, name the person instead.

2. a district or region of a country that a bishop has authority over and responsib

2.名詞B2
釋義

a district or region of a country that a bishop has authority over and responsibility for

例句

The bishopric of Durham covers a large area of northeastern England.

Father Kwame was transferred to a different bishopric in the southern part of the country.

同義詞
  • diocese

    the standard everyday term; bishopric is somewhat more formal and less common

  • see

    refers to the official centre or city of a bishop's authority, not necessarily the whole region

文法句型

the bishopric of [place]

[possessive] bishopric covers/lies/extends

用法筆記

The pattern 'bishopric of [place name]' (e.g., 'bishopric of Durham') nearly always signals this geographical sense. Distinguish from sense 1 (PERIOD OF SERVICE): a territory exists and has boundaries regardless of who the current bishop is.

常見錯誤

❌She served as priest in the bishopric of Leeds for thirty years.
✅She served as priest in the diocese of Leeds for thirty years.
💡'diocese' is the everyday word for the territory; 'bishopric' sounds more formal or old-fashioned in this use.

3. the official position or rank of being a bishop in a Christian church

3.名詞C1
釋義

the official position or rank of being a bishop in a Christian church

例句

Kwame served as a parish priest for fifteen years before he was offered a bishopric.

Lucia was the first woman to hold a bishopric in that province of the Anglican church.

hold a bishopric — common verb + noun collocation

同義詞
  • episcopate

    more technical term for the office; bishopric is more accessible for learners

  • bishop's office

    a clearer but less concise equivalent

文法句型

hold a bishopric

be offered a bishopric

accept/turn down a bishopric

用法筆記

Abstract noun referring to the rank itself, not the tenure (sense 1) or the territory (sense 2). Typical verbs: 'hold', 'be offered', 'accept', 'turn down'. You can 'hold a bishopric' for an entire afternoon — the time span is irrelevant to this sense.

常見錯誤

❌Bishopric of Durham is a very old position.
✅The bishopric of Durham is a very old position.
💡the definite article 'the' is required when specifying the position by place name.