1. A coworker; an assistant. See synonyms at assistant.
2. An assistant to a bishop, especially one designated to succeed the bishop.

[Middle English coadjutour, assistant, from Latin coadiūtor : co-, co- + adiūtor, assistant (from adiūtāre, to aid; see adjutant).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.