A bishop elected or appointed as an assistant to the bishop or ordinary of a diocese, having administrative and episcopal responsibilities but no jurisdictional functions.
A bishop regarded in position as subordinate to an archbishop or a metropolitan.
adj. Of, being, or relating to a suffragan.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin suffrāgāneus, voting, supporting, from Latin suffrāgium, support, right to vote, from suffrāgārī, to express support; see bhreg- in Indo-European roots.] suf'fra·gan·ship' n.