presidential

adjective

pres·​i·​den·​tial ˌpre-zə-ˈden(t)-shəl 

ˌprez-ˈden(t)-

1

a

: of, relating to, or befitting a president or a president's authority

presidential duties/responsibilities

a presidential pardon

a presidential manner/bearing

the presidential library

b

: of or relating to the election of a president

the presidential campaign

a presidential convention

c

: performing functions delegated by or under the authority of a president

a presidential committee

a presidential agent

2

: of, based upon, or having the characteristics of presidential government

a presidential system

a presidential republic

presidentially

ˌpre-zə-ˈden(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

ˌprez-ˈden(t)-

adverb

a presidentially appointed judge

Examples of presidential in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That includes administration officials who are occasionally whispered about as harboring presidential ambitions, like Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Ossoff and El-Sayed, similarly to Kamala Harris during her presidential bid, also leaned into what was happening on the internet. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 5 Nov. 2026

In fact, in states where Democrats won Senate races in the 2026 midterms, average margins were twice as large as Harris' winning margins in the 2024 presidential election. — Grace Manthey, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026

Prominent public officials or honorees are said to lie in repose when their casket is displayed in a prominent public building other than the main legislative or government center, such as a presidential library, cathedral or university. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing presidential

• pre-presidential
• presidential government
• presidential/royal pardon

Rhymes for presidential

• consequential
• deferential
• existential
• exponential
• influential
• nonessential
• penitential
• precedential
• preferential
• providential
• referential
• residential