chair

1 of 2

noun

ˈcher 

plural chairs

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

: chairperson sense 1

was appointed chair of the committee

3

: a position of employment usually of one occupying a chair or desk

specifically : the position of a player in an orchestra or band

4

: any of various devices that hold up or support

5

: a sedan chair

chair

2 of 2

verb

chaired; chairing; chairs

transitive verb

1

: to preside as chairperson of

chaired a commission

2

: to install in office

3

chiefly British : to carry on the shoulders in acclaim

we chaired you through the market place

—A. E. Housman

Synonyms

Noun

• chairman
• chairperson
• moderator
• president
• presider
• prolocutor
• speaker

Examples of chair in a Sentence

Noun

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

Verb

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Rhum Room is a moody, mature space accentuated with teal, peanut butter leather chairs and a collection of more than 100 small-batch rums. —Demarco Williams, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024

Cathal Conneely, a spokesman for the Judicial Council of California — which sets state court policy and which Guerrero chairs — said in a statement to The Times that council staff were told of Jessner’s plans. —Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024

Verb

De la Torre also refused invitations to testify at a Boston field hearing earlier this year chaired by Markey. —Steve Leblanc, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2024

Decker chairs the House's public health committee and is a top point-person for Speaker Ron Mariano. —Mike Deehan, Axios, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing chair

• Adirondack chair
• Barcelona chair
• bath chair
• butterfly chair
• captain's chair
• chair car
• chair rail
• club chair
• co-chair
• deck chair
• director's chair
• easy chair
• electric chair
• fighting chair
• garden chair
• high chair
• ice-cream chair
• lawn chair
• lounge chair
• morris chair
• papasan chair
• potty-chair
• pull up a chair
• rocking chair
• sedan chair
• side chair
• slipper chair
• swivel chair
• the chair
• Windsor chair
• wing chair

Kids Definition

chair

noun

ˈche(ə)r,

ˈcha(ə)r

1

: a seat with legs and a back for use by one person

2

a

: an official seat or a seat of authority or honor

b

: an office or position of authority or honor

c

: an official who conducts a meeting