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

Sarkozy was sentenced to five years in jail for criminal conspiracy last month, for his role in a scheme to finance his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya in exchange for diplomatic favors. —Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025

This was the best showing by a GOP presidential nominee in two decades. —Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025

Continue reading … KEEPS ON GIVING – Joe Rogan and Andrew Schulz mock Harris' claim of people calling her most qualified presidential candidate. —FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025

The addition is one of the biggest changes to the presidential residence in decades, and is being financed by private donors. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

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
• evidential
• existential
• exponential
• influential
• nonessential
• penitential
• precedential
• preferential
• providential
• referential