presidency

noun

pres·​i·​den·​cy ˈpre-zə-dən(t)-sē 

ˈprez-dən(t)-

also ˈpre-zə-ˌden(t)-sē

plural presidencies

1

a

: the office of president

b(1)

: the office of president of the U.S.

(2)

: the American governmental institution comprising the office of president and various associated administrative and policymaking agencies

2

: the term during which a president holds office

3

: the action or function of one that presides : superintendence

4

: a Latter-day Saint executive council of the church or a stake consisting of a president and two counselors

Synonyms of presidency

• administration
• management
• operation
• government
• supervision
• handling
• control
• stewardship
• direction
• governance
• oversight

Examples of presidency in a Sentence

responsibility for the presidency of a major television network

Recent Examples on the Web

The campus brings together a museum designed to tell the story of Obama’s life and presidency, a Chicago Public Library branch, performance space, athletic center, outdoor gardens, playgrounds, and a sledding hill. —Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 11 Jan. 2026

Unlike Worrell and Coletta Zapata, Breadon was not actively seeking the presidency. —Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026

In December, Frederiksen completed her turn in the six-month rotating presidency of the European Council. —Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026

While Republicans have control of Congress and the presidency, Omar said, that won’t be the case forever. —Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing presidency

• vice presidency

Rhymes for presidency

• residency

Kids Definition

presidency

noun

pres·​i·​den·​cy ˈprez-əd-ən-sē 

ˈprez-dən-;

ˈprez-ə-ˌden(t)-sē

plural presidencies

1

: the office of president

2

: the term during which a president holds office

Legal Definition

presidency

noun

pres·​i·​den·​cy ˈpre-zə-dən-sē, -ˌden- 

plural presidencies

1

a

: the office of president

b

: the office of president of the U.S.

also : the American governmental institution comprising the office of president and various associated administrative and policy-making agencies

2

: the term during which a president holds office

3

: the action or function of one that presides