lord chancellor

noun

plural lords chancellor

: a British officer of state who presides over the House of Lords in both its legislative and judicial capacities, serves as the head of the British judiciary, and is usually a leading member of the cabinet

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

More, a counselor to Henry VIII, and lord chancellor for three years from 1529, had refused to recognize the new Church of England or Henry as its leader. —John Garth, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2022

His highest-ranking advisor was the lord chancellor. —Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 8 Sep. 2022

Steve Gunderson is amusingly bored as Sebastian, the corrupt lord chancellor. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2022

Britain's new justice secretary and lord chancellor, David Gauke, leaves Prime Minister Theresa May’s Downing Street residence on Monday. —Karla Adam, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2018

There's a famous exchange in Robert Bolt's play A Man for All Seasons between Thomas More, who is Henry VIII's lord chancellor, and William Roper, his son-in-law to be. —Michael Miner, Chicago Reader, 11 Jan. 2018

The depiction of Mary was found under a painting of John Maitland, a nobleman who became lord chancellor of Scotland. —Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 31 Oct. 2017

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Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

Lord Chancellor

noun

: an official in the British judicial system whose duties include heading the Chancery Division and presiding over the Supreme Court of Judicature and the House of Lords in its judicial capacity