hierarch
noun
hi·er·arch ˈhī-(ə-)ˌrärk 
1
: a religious leader in a position of authority
2
: a person high in a hierarchy
hierarchal
ˌhī-(ə-)ˈrär-kəl
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In the immediate aftermath of communism there was a flurry of revelations about collaboration between Russian hierarchs and the KGB, but soon the files snapped shut. 
The Economist, 11 Aug. 2019 That paved the way for Archbishop Ieronymos to join the primate of the new Ukrainian church, Epifaniy, and many other Bartholomew-minded hierarchs at celebrations in Istanbul of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s personal feast-day on June 11th. Erasmus, The Economist, 15 June 2019 The affair follows a two-year-old drive by Archbishop Charles Thompson, the local hierarch, to make sure that Catholic teaching is observed in all the places under his purview. Erasmus, The Economist, 14 July 2019 Unfortunately the ability to communicate successfully across other barriers, whether geopolitical or simply personal, is currently eluding the Christians of the East, or at least their hierarchs. Erasmus, The Economist, 15 June 2019
The Economist, 11 Aug. 2019 That paved the way for Archbishop Ieronymos to join the primate of the new Ukrainian church, Epifaniy, and many other Bartholomew-minded hierarchs at celebrations in Istanbul of the Ecumenical Patriarch’s personal feast-day on June 11th. Erasmus, The Economist, 15 June 2019 The affair follows a two-year-old drive by Archbishop Charles Thompson, the local hierarch, to make sure that Catholic teaching is observed in all the places under his purview. Erasmus, The Economist, 14 July 2019 Unfortunately the ability to communicate successfully across other barriers, whether geopolitical or simply personal, is currently eluding the Christians of the East, or at least their hierarchs. Erasmus, The Economist, 15 June 2019 Word History
Etymology
Middle English ierarchis, plural, from Medieval Latin hierarcha, from Greek hierarchēs, from hieros sacred + -archēs -arch
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
hierarch
noun
as in executive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- executive
- administrator
- commander
- leader
- general
- chief
- headman
- overseer
- employer
- governor
- steward
- director
- captain
- master
- potentate
- boss
- helmsman
- mistress
- supervisor
- foreman
- higher-up
- overlord
- principal
- honcho
- manager
- sovereign
- jefe
- skipper
- taskmaster
- superintendent
- superior
- ruler
- leadman
- boss man
- kingpin
- figurehead
- forewoman
- head
- president
- prince
- taskmistress
- king
- czar
- standard-bearer
- straw boss
- baron
- ganger
- gaffer
- princess
- queen
- sovran
- czarina
- tsar
- bigwig
- magnate
- tzar
- mogul
- top gun
- tsarina
- coleader
- top dog
- big gun
- tzarina
- big cheese
- cohead
