'archiepiscopate' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'archiepiscopatus', where the prefix 'archi-' meant 'chief' and 'episcopatus' is related to 'episcopus' meaning 'overseer'.

'archiepiscopate' changed from Medieval Latin 'archiepiscopatus' (and via Old French 'archiepiscopat') and eventually became the modern English word 'archiepiscopate'.

Initially, it meant 'the office or jurisdiction of a chief overseer (an archbishop)', and over time it has retained that sense while also being used for the period of an archbishop's tenure and, less commonly, collectively for archbishops as a body.