presidency

noun

pres·​i·​den·​cy ˈpre-zə-dən(t)-sē 

ˈprez-dən(t)-

also ˈpre-zə-ˌden(t)-sē

plural presidencies

1

a

: the office of president

b(1)

: the office of president of the U.S.

(2)

: the American governmental institution comprising the office of president and various associated administrative and policymaking agencies

2

: the term during which a president holds office

3

: the action or function of one that presides : superintendence

4

: a Latter-day Saint executive council of the church or a stake consisting of a president and two counselors

Synonyms of presidency

• administration
• management
• operation
• government
• supervision
• handling
• control
• stewardship
• direction
• governance
• oversight

Examples of presidency in a Sentence

responsibility for the presidency of a major television network

Recent Examples on the Web

This language is fairly boilerplate for most people seeking the presidency. —Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026

Susan Page, the Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY, has covered 12 presidential campaigns and seven presidencies. —Susan Page, USA Today, 15 June 2026

Obama touted his favorite reads throughout his presidency. —Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026

Ireland will be holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union starting in July. —Rob Gillies, Fortune, 13 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing presidency

• vice presidency

Rhymes for presidency

• residency

Kids Definition

presidency

noun

pres·​i·​den·​cy ˈprez-əd-ən-sē 

ˈprez-dən-;

ˈprez-ə-ˌden(t)-sē

plural presidencies

1

: the office of president

2

: the term during which a president holds office

Legal Definition

presidency

noun

pres·​i·​den·​cy ˈpre-zə-dən-sē, -ˌden- 

plural presidencies

1

a

: the office of president

b

: the office of president of the U.S.

also : the American governmental institution comprising the office of president and various associated administrative and policy-making agencies

2

: the term during which a president holds office

3

: the action or function of one that presides