diocésain

Diocésain is a French adjective meaning related to a diocese, the territorial jurisdiction overseen by a bishop in Christian churches, especially the Roman Catholic Church. The term derives from diocese (diocèse in French), itself from Late Latin diocesis, which ultimately traces to Greek dioikēsis, meaning administration or governance.

In ecclesiastical usage, diocésain describes anything connected with the governance, institutions, or territory of a diocese. This includes the diocesan bishop, the diocesan curia, the chancery, parishes within the diocese, and diocesan schools or programs. The phrase diocesan press or diocesan newspaper is common in many Catholic communities. The concept contrasts with bodies or communities that are not under a diocesan structure, such as religious orders whose governance lies with their own superior rather than the diocesan bishop.

Outside strictly church administration, the adjective appears in scholarly or journalistic writing to explain matters pertaining to a specific diocese. While the term is widely used in French-language ecclesiastical discourse, English-language parallel terms include diocesan and see also the broader concepts of diocese, bishop, and curia. The word thus functions as a precise, neutral label for things tied to a particular bishop’s jurisdiction. See also: Diocese, Bishop, Diocesan synod, Diocesan school.