What is "coadjutor bishop"

n. (context Roman Catholicism English) An auxiliary bishop with the right of succession, i.e., he becomes bishop upon the death, removal or retirement of the incumbent bishop.

A coadjutor bishop (or bishop coadjutor) is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese. The coadjutor (literally, "co-assister" in Latin) is a bishop himself, and while also appointed as vicar general, is given authority beyond that ordinarily given to the vicar general, making him co-head of the diocese in all but ceremonial precedence. In modern times, the coadjutor automatically succeeds the current bishop of a diocese upon the latter's retirement, removal or death.