diocese

Everyday

1. (church) An area with many churches and parishes, looked after by a bishop. tree →
2. The church community and offices of that area. tree →

In the lessons

In church life, Anglican and Catholic churches belong to a diocese; the bishop's main church is called the cathedral. Church schools may belong to a diocese and say «diocesan». Phrases: «the Diocese of…», «diocesan school», «bishop of the diocese».

Examples

• Our parish is part of the diocese of Dublin. tree →
• The bishop visits every church in his diocese. tree →
• The cathedral is the main church of the diocese. tree →
• Our school is a diocesan school. tree →
• The diocese has more than a hundred parishes. tree →
• Young people from the whole diocese met for a festival. tree →

Note

Countable; plural dioceses. Pronounced DY-uh-sis. Adjective: diocesan. A parish is smaller (one church area); an archdiocese is a big important one led by an archbishop.