chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər 

1

a

: the secretary of a nobleman, prince, or king

b

: the lord chancellor of Great Britain

c

British : the chief secretary of an embassy

d

: a Roman Catholic priest heading the office in which diocesan business is transacted and recorded

2

a

: the titular head of a British university

b(1)

: a university president

(2)

: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education

3

a

: a lay legal officer or adviser of an Anglican diocese

b

: a judge in a court of chancery or equity in various states of the U.S.

4

: the chief minister of state in some European countries

chancellorship

ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of chancellor in a Sentence

the new chancellor of the university

Recent Examples on the Web

The Baton Rouge native was a political consultant and legislative liaison in his hometown before breaking into college athletics with LSU as director of external affairs in 2000 under then-chancellor and future NCAA president Mark Emmert. —The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025

Checks and balances The appeal to the DOJ advances similar concerns that Cornyn first raised in an August letter to Chief Justice John Roberts in his role as chancellor of the Smithsonian. —ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2025

The presentation by Robinson, who has been the university’s chancellor since 2022, centered on the record numbers the school has attained in the last six years and its goals as a land grant institution. —Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025

It was signed by Belichick; UNC vice chancellor Nathan Knuffman; and Hudson, who is listed as TCE Rights Management’s chief operating officer. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chanceler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, secretary, from cancellus

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing chancellor

• chancellor of the exchequer
• lord chancellor
• vice chancellor

Kids Definition

chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər 

1

: the chief minister of state in some European countries

2

: the head of a university

Legal Definition

chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan-sə-lər 

1

: the head of a chancery: as

a

: the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain

b

: a judge in a court of equity in various states

2

a

: a university president

b

: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education

3

: the chief minister of state in some European countries (as Germany)

Etymology

Old French chancelier royal secretary, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, clerk, from Latin cancellus latticework barrier