1
: one that directs : leader
2
a
: a member of the clergy (as of the Protestant Episcopal Church) in charge of a parish
b
: an incumbent of a Church of England benefice in full possession of its rights
c
: a Roman Catholic priest directing a church with no pastor or one whose pastor has other duties
3
: the head of a university or school
Examples of rector in a Sentence
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ABC News, 1 June 2026
Fabrizio Giulio Luca Pilo, vice rector of innovation at the University of Cagliari, has been working to help Sardinia transition to cleaner, more reliable energy.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Among the major threats to Rocha Moya’s political survival was the outcry about the 2024 shooting death of his one-time chief political rival, Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda, a former lawmaker and university rector.
—Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Throughout his work, the monsignor has served numerous parishes and schools across the local archdiocese, including Our Lady’s in Scituate, Our Lady of the Assumption in Lynnfield and Saint Peter Parish in Cambridge, and became rector of the Cathedral in 2008.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
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Noun
About 120 of them engage in adoration and weekend-long spiritual retreats, the first of which saw organizers and the basilica’s rector stay up to prepare the church until well past midnight.
—ABC News, 1 June 2026
Fabrizio Giulio Luca Pilo, vice rector of innovation at the University of Cagliari, has been working to help Sardinia transition to cleaner, more reliable energy.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026
Among the major threats to Rocha Moya’s political survival was the outcry about the 2024 shooting death of his one-time chief political rival, Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda, a former lawmaker and university rector.
—Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Throughout his work, the monsignor has served numerous parishes and schools across the local archdiocese, including Our Lady’s in Scituate, Our Lady of the Assumption in Lynnfield and Saint Peter Parish in Cambridge, and became rector of the Cathedral in 2008.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rector
Cite this Entry
“Rector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rector. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rector
noun
rec·tor
ˈrek-tər 
1
: a member of the clergy who has charge of a church or parish
2
: the priest in charge of certain Roman Catholic religious houses
3
: the head of a university or school
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