n. (in full suffragan bishop or bishop suffragan) 1 a bishop appointed to help a diocesan bishop in the administration of a diocese. 2 a bishop in relation to his archbishop or metropolitan. suffragan see the see of a suffragan bishop. suffraganship n.
[ ME f. AF & OF, repr. med.L suffraganeus assistant (bishop) f. L suffragium (see SUFFRAGE): orig. of a bishop summoned to vote in synod ]