Definition

Noun: - The Lords Spiritual: In the United Kingdom, this term refers specifically to the bishops of the Church of England who sit in the House of Lords, the upper chamber of Parliament. They are distinguished from the "Lords Temporal" (peers who are not bishops).

Usage Notes

• The term is a proper noun and is almost always capitalized as "the Lords Spiritual."
• It functions as a collective noun for the group.
• Its usage is specific to the British constitutional and parliamentary system.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used historically or in comparative government to discuss the role of clergy in legislative bodies.
  • The concept of Lords Spiritual has its roots in medieval parliaments.

Variants and Related Words

• Lord Spiritual (singular noun): An individual bishop who is a member of this group.
  • The Archbishop of Canterbury is the most senior Lord Spiritual.

Synonyms

• The bench of bishops (specifically in the UK parliamentary context).

Different Meanings

• While the primary modern meaning is UK-specific, the term can be used more broadly in historical contexts to refer to high-ranking clergy who held secular power or sat in governing assemblies, such as in pre-Revolutionary France.

Noun

1. the clergy in France and the heads of the church in Britain