president
noun
pres·i·dent
ˈpre-zə-dənt 
ˈprez-dənt,
ˈpre-zə-ˌdent,
in rapid speech ˈpre-zᵊnt
1
: an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly
2
: an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit
3
: the chief officer of an organization (such as a corporation or institution) usually entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies
4
: the presiding officer of a governmental body
5
a
: an elected official serving as both chief of state and chief political executive in a republic having a presidential government
b
: an elected official having the position of chief of state but usually only minimal political powers in a republic having a parliamentary government
Synonyms
Examples of president in a Sentence
The President will hold a news conference tomorrow.
the president of the international conference on genocide
Recent Examples on the Web
Renee Mahaffey Harris – Mahaffey Harris is president and CEO of The Health Gap, an organization that works towards ending racial and ethnic health disparities across Cincinnati.
—
Annasofia Scheve, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2023
Diesel founded the production company One Race Films in 1995, and Samantha has been its president since September 2001.
—Adam England, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2023
Youngkin hasn’t ruled out or in a run but has stoked 2024 speculation by refusing to commit to completing his term, releasing a campaign launch-style video linking himself to former president Ronald Reagan and courting out-of-state megadonors with no ties to Virginia.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2023
And the presidents are the ones who are driving this.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023
Walsh said the administration’s electric vehicle push isn’t a threat to auto workers and the president deserves their votes.
—Jim Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
The political disconnect between both sides is a break from the recent past, since Biden and DeSantis met when the president toured Florida after Hurricane Ian hit the state last year, and following the Surfside condo collapse in Miami Beach in summer 2021.
—Will Weissert, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Sep. 2023
After the Democratic president elevated the issue in his State of the Union speech, advocates were initially elated, expecting the most significant change for residents since the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987.
—Matt Sedensky The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2023
The 46-year-old rapper launched his bid for president in 2020 amid a tumultuous period in his personal life with then-wife Kim, 42, and various episodes of erratic behavior.
—Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2023
See More
Annasofia Scheve, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2023
Diesel founded the production company One Race Films in 1995, and Samantha has been its president since September 2001.
—Adam England, Peoplemag, 2 Sep. 2023
Youngkin hasn’t ruled out or in a run but has stoked 2024 speculation by refusing to commit to completing his term, releasing a campaign launch-style video linking himself to former president Ronald Reagan and courting out-of-state megadonors with no ties to Virginia.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2023
And the presidents are the ones who are driving this.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 2 Sep. 2023
Walsh said the administration’s electric vehicle push isn’t a threat to auto workers and the president deserves their votes.
—Jim Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
The political disconnect between both sides is a break from the recent past, since Biden and DeSantis met when the president toured Florida after Hurricane Ian hit the state last year, and following the Surfside condo collapse in Miami Beach in summer 2021.
—Will Weissert, Anchorage Daily News, 2 Sep. 2023
After the Democratic president elevated the issue in his State of the Union speech, advocates were initially elated, expecting the most significant change for residents since the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987.
—Matt Sedensky The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 2 Sep. 2023
The 46-year-old rapper launched his bid for president in 2020 amid a tumultuous period in his personal life with then-wife Kim, 42, and various episodes of erratic behavior.
—Alexis Jones, Peoplemag, 19 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'president.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesident-, praesidens, from present participle of praesidēre
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of president was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing president
Articles Related to president
Dictionary Entries Near president
Cite this Entry
“President.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/president. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
president
noun
pres·i·dent
ˈprez-əd-ənt
ˈprez-dənt,
ˈprez-ə-ˌdent
1
: a person who presides over a meeting
2
: the chief officer of an organization
a bank president
college president
president of our club
3
: the chief executive officer or the chief of state in a republic
Legal Definition
president
noun
pres·i·dent
ˈpre-zə-dənt, -ˌdent
often capitalized
1
: an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly
2
: an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit
3
: the chief officer of an organization (as a corporation or institution) usually entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies
4
: the presiding officer of a governmental body
the Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I5
a
: an elected official serving as both chief of state and chief political executive in a republic having a presidential government
b
: an elected official having the position of chief of state but usually only minimal political powers in a republic having a parliamentary government
More from Merriam-Webster on president
Nglish: Translation of president for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of president for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about president
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