1. Plural of episcopacy; systems of church government headed by bishops, or the office and authority of a bishop.
Usage: Primarily used in religious and ecclesiastical contexts; Often refers to the Anglican, Catholic, or Orthodox church structures
2. The collective body of bishops in a church or religious organization.
Usage: Formal ecclesiastical usage

Examples

• Different Christian denominations practice various forms of episcopacies.
• The Anglican Church maintains one of the most recognized episcopacies in the world.
• Historical episcopacies in medieval Europe wielded significant political power.
• The Catholic episcopacies across continents coordinate through the Vatican.
• Some Protestant churches rejected episcopacies in favor of democratic governance structures.