overseer

noun

over·​seer ˈō-vər-ˌsir How to pronounce overseer (audio)
ˈō-və-
-ˌsē-ər;
ˌō-vər-ˈsir
ˌō-və-
-ˈsē-ər
plural overseers
Synonyms of overseernext
: a person who oversees others : a person with supervisory responsibilities
Her insider status was cemented in 1988 with a stint as … overseer of the party's nominating convention.Gwen Ifill
… suggests that in Upper Egypt the control of local affairs by the pharaoh's overseer was gradually diluted during the late Old Kingdom …Robert J. Wenke
Some pension funds proactively keep government overseers up to date so that they will not feel a need to be intrusive.Simon C. Y. Wong

Examples of overseer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
A lot is at stake for Weiss, Bilton, CBS News and corporate overseers at Paramount Skydance as the show moves toward what may be its most unusual season yet. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 Industry faces ‘challenges,’ overseer says Efforts by Health and Welfare to document the extent of issues facing Idaho’s nursing homes have improved in recent years. Matan Josephy, Idaho Statesman, 31 Aug. 2026 The council will soon appoint Biancardi as the ex officio overseer of the office, which comes with no compensation. Jim Woods, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 How did Infantino go from progressive reformer, the overseer of newly transparent and accountable FIFA, to the man who literally tried to sell the World Cup? Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for overseer

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of overseer was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Overseer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overseer. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

overseer

noun
over·​seer ˈō-və(r)-ˌsi(ə)r How to pronounce overseer (audio)
-ˌsē-ər;
ˌō-və(r)-ˈsi(ə)r
-ˈsē-ər
: one that oversees : superintendent

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