episcopacy

== English == === Etymology === From episcopa(te) +‎ -cy and/or episcopa(l) +‎ -cy. === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ɪˈpɪskəpəsi/ === Noun === episcopacy (countable and uncountable, plural episcopacies) The office of bishop and the governance of a church (a religious denomination) by bishops. Hyponyms: archiepiscopacy, monepiscopacy Coordinate terms: papacy, popedom, popeship, popehood Near-synonyms: bishopric, bishopry, bishopdom, bishopship, bishophood, archbishopric, archbishopry, archbishopdom, archbishopship, archbishophood Bishops collectively: Synonym of episcopate. Hyponyms: archiepiscopacy, monepiscopacy Coordinate terms: papacy, popedom, popeship, popehood Near-synonyms: bishopric, bishopry, bishopdom, bishopship, archbishopric, archbishopry, archbishopdom, archbishopship ==== Usage notes ==== Use as a capitalized proper noun ("the Episcopacy") refers to a specific episcopacy within the context of its particular church (where it is unique): usually and especially, the episcopacy of Anglicanism and Episcopalianism. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ====