chair

play

noun \ ˈcher \

Definition of chair

1 a :a seat typically having four legs and a back for one person

b :electric chair —used with the

2 a :an official seat or a seat of authority, state, or dignity

b :an office or position of authority or dignity

c :professorship

holds a university chair

d :chairman 1

3 :a sedan chair

4 :a position of employment usually of one occupying a chair or desk; specifically :the position of a player in an orchestra or band

5 :any of various devices that hold up or support

See chair defined for English-language learners

See chair defined for kids

Examples of chair in a Sentence

a chair by the window
We'll need a table and four chairs for the dining room.
He is now chair of the English department.
She's chair of the school board this year.
Address any questions to the committee chair.
a murderer who was sentenced to the chair

Recent Examples of chair from the Web

The family of another man killed in the restraint chair got $8.25 million in a pre-trial settlement.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "‘Sheriff Joe’ and Everyday American Authoritarianism," 30 Aug. 2017
Vice chairs Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.) and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) were among 17 others who signed the letter.

— david nakamura, Washington Post, "Hispanic leaders in Congress call end of protection program for Central American minors ‘morally indefensible’," 29 Aug. 2017
Neither Lee nor co-chair Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, could be immediately reached for comment.

— andrew wolfson, The Courier-Journal, "U of L gets money for lawyers to pursue 'potential wrongdoing' by foundation officers," 25 Aug. 2017
It's used today as an art studio and chair caning shop.

— elizabeth finkelstein, Country Living, "This is the Stone Farmhouse We've Been Waiting Our Whole Lives to Buy," 24 Aug. 2017
A disturbing photo of a 4-year old girl in Missouri appears to show her duct taped to a chair at her daycare center, setting off a call from her parents for a thorough investigation.

— malaika jabali, Essence.com, "Parents Demand Answers After Daycare Duct-Tapes 4-Year-Old Girl To Chair," 22 Aug. 2017
Sitting in chairs, the women balanced their feet on red, green and orange balls.

— tetona dunlap, idahostatesman, "One Idahoan with Type 2 diabetes turns to exercise, another to chicken-fried steak," 19 Aug. 2017
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and picnic under the stars while watching this free outdoor movie.

— lisa regnante, Howard County Times, "Photos requested for a school's look back in time [Ellicott City]," 18 Aug. 2017
Grab your blanket and chairs and join Los Angeles magazine and LA Opera at the 4th Annual Opera at the Beach featuring The Wine Terrace Tasting Experience.

— Los Angeles Magazine, "The Wine Terrace at Opera at the Beach," 14 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chair.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chair

Middle English chaiere, from Anglo-French, from Latin cathedra, from Greek kathedra, from kata- cata- + hedra seat — more at sit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

chair Synonyms

Synonyms

chairman, chairperson, moderator, president, presider, prolocutor, speaker

Related Words

chairwoman; cochair, cochairman, cochairperson, cochairwoman, copresident

Near Antonyms

ranks

Other Furniture and Woodworking Terms

appoint, credenza, mission, settee

chair

verb

Definition of chair

transitive verb

1 :to install in office

2 chiefly British :to carry on the shoulders in acclaim

we chaired you through the market place
—A. E. Housman

3 :to preside as chairman of

See chair defined for English-language learners

Examples of chair in a Sentence

He's been chosen to chair the task force on school violence.

Recent Examples of chair from the Web

And Justus both chairs the council’s Airport Committee and serves on the selection committee that’s likely to recommend a winning proposal to do that airport work.

— lynn horsley, kansascity, "Ethics commission rules for councilwoman on conflict over KCI," 30 Aug. 2017
It was prepared by a group of faculty members chaired by Beverly Emerson, a molecular biologist who is one of three plaintiffs in last month's lawsuits.

— meredith wadman, Science | AAAS, "Leaked documents expose long-standing gender tensions at Salk Institute," 23 Aug. 2017
Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander chairs the committee.

— alan fram, The Seattle Times, "Senate panel plans 2 hearings on girding health insurance," 22 Aug. 2017
The Voice (NBC) Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson join Adam Levine and Blake Shelton in the red judges chairs this season.

— whitney friedlander, Esquire, "Fall TV Preview: Your Complete Guide to the Season's Premieres," 4 Aug. 2017
Crane chairs the committee and has resisted a meeting on grounds that the panel does not have oversight on the TAN borrowings.

— bill dentzer, idahostatesman, "Idaho’s treasurer spent at least $5 million too much borrowing money. Now he’s refusing a review," 25 July 2017
BHP Billiton Ltd. named former packaging company head Ken MacKenzie to chair its board as the world’s biggest miner grapples with a mounting challenge from restive investors and slowing growth in China, its top customer.

— Bloomberg.com, "What We Know About BHP's New Chairman Ken MacKenzie," 16 June 2017
Glenn will chair the administrative committee, with support from Gamatoria and Hitchings.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Make your voice heard on the Havre de Grace budget this Monday," 9 June 2017
Albert Kelly, whom Pruitt announced May 22 as his choice to chair the Superfund Task Force, is an Oklahoma banker who has no prior experience with the program or with environmental issues at all, according to his résumé.

— sharon lerner, The Intercept, "Donald Trump’s Pick for EPA Enforcement Office Was a Lobbyist for Superfund Polluters," 24 May 2017

First Known Use of chair

1552

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

CHAIR Defined for English Language Learners

chair

play

noun

Definition of chair for English Language Learners

: a seat for one person that has a back and usually four legs
: the person who is the leader of a department at a college or university
: the person who is the leader of a meeting, organization, committee, or event

chair

verb

Definition of chair for English Language Learners

: to be in charge of a meeting, organization, committee, or event : to be the chairperson of (something)

CHAIR Defined for Kids

chair

play

noun \ ˈcher \

Definition of chair for Students

1 :a seat for one person usually having a back and four legs

2 :a person who leads a meeting, group, or event

Learn More about chair

See words that rhyme with chair Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chair Spanish Central: Translation of chair Nglish: Translation of chair for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chair for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chair

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Other Furniture and Woodworking Terms

chair

Definition of chair

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First Known Use of chair

Other Government and Politics Terms

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CHAIR Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of chair for English Language Learners

chair

Definition of chair for English Language Learners

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