# prelate

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɹɛlət/ · frequency rank #44,416

## Definitions
1. A clergyman of high rank and authority, having jurisdiction over an area or a group of people; normally a bishop.

## Etymology
From Old French prelat (French prélat), from Medieval Latin praelātus, perfect passive participle of praeferō (“to carry before, prefer, exceed”), see -ate (noun-forming suffix). Doublet of prefer. See also infer, relate and refer, delate and defer, as well as collate and confer among others.

## Easily confused with
- **private** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prelate-vs-private)
- **prepare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prelate-vs-prepare)
- **prelude** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prelate-vs-prelude)
- **probate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prelate-vs-probate)
- **primate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/prelate-vs-primate)
- **plate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plate-vs-prelate)
- **palate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palate-vs-prelate)
- **Pilate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pilate-vs-prelate)
- **preface** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/preface-vs-prelate)
- **pregame** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pregame-vs-prelate)
- **predate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/predate-vs-prelate)

## Common misspellings (10)
`perlate`, `pprelate`, `prealte`, `prelaet`, `prelatte`, `prellate`, `preltae`, `prleate`, `prrelate`, `rpelate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/prelate