POTUS

abbreviation or noun

ˈpō-təs 

variants or less commonly Potus

: the president of the United States

—often used like a nickname

The Bushes held their first state dinner. POTUS served buffalo meat, wore cowboy boots and welcomed Clint Eastwood.

—Newsweek

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some other acronyms like POTUS?

The oldest -OTUS ("of the United States") acronym is SCOTUS ("Supreme Court of the United States"), in use since the 1870s. POTUS ("President of the United States") is the second oldest, coming some twenty years after SCOTUS. FLOTUS ("First Lady of the United States") is another, thought to have originated in the 1980s. Less common than these, but still occasionally found, is VPOTUS ("Vice President of the United States").

Is POTUS always capitalized?

The most common form of the word is POTUS, although it is also found as Potus. Less common, and formerly used more frequently in the early 20th century, is potus.

What is the origin of the word POTUS?

POTUS is an acronym created by taking the first letter of each word in "President of the United States." According to our earliest records of its use, it came into being in the 1890s as an abbreviation used by telegraph operators. POTUS was likely based on the slightly older SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States), which had been used by telegraph operators since the 1870s.

Examples of POTUS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This time around, the official POTUS Instagram celebrated a visit by actor Vince Vaughn, spoofing the poster from 2005’s Wedding Crashers for the occasion. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2025

On Friday, April 18, the official POTUS and White House Instagram accounts shared a joint post featuring a snapshot of the vocally Libertarian actor, 55, and the president, 78, in the Oval Office together. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025

Under threat, unconstitutional or not, by Trump personally, Willkie Farr & Gallagher wasted little time making a $100 million deal that POTUS bragged about on April Fools’ Day. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025

On the movie front, Viola Davis is an endangered POTUS in G20, Tom Hardy plays a cynical detective in Havoc, and documentary subjects include the Stranger Things stage production, the Milwaukee Brewers’ 1982 season and the Disney cult classic A Goofy Movie. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 31 Mar. 2025

In that context, the 45th and 47th POTUS was on a roll today. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 30 Mar. 2025

The strongest reason to do this is, as POTUS said, to send a message. —New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025

Plus, it should be said: regardless of one’s politics, the city has become a political focal point, given POTUS’s home there. —Nick Remsen, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025

Now that Trump will be an era-defining, two-term POTUS like Obama, what is the one thing Obama has that Trump doesn't? —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for POTUS

• glottis
• epiglottis
• serratus