president

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

presidentship

ˈpre-zə-dənt-ˌship 

ˈprez-dənt-, 

ˈpre-zə-ˌdent-

noun

presidentship

2 of 2

noun (2)

pres·​i·​dent·​ship ˈprez(ə)dəntˌship 

1

: the office of president

contests for the presidentships and chairmanships of civic bodies

—Hindustan Times

accepted the presidentship of the … association

—Modern Language Teaching

2

: the period of incumbency of a president

the 17th year of his presidentship

—Cotton Mather

Synonyms of president

Noun (1)

• chairman
• chairperson
• moderator
• presider

Examples of president in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The President will hold a news conference tomorrow.

the president of the international conference on genocide

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Scott Butera, Affinity’s chief executive and president, offered a few comments about the closure at the May 21 Nevada Gaming Commission meeting. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026

Messengers could also be faced with considering a constitutional amendment proposed by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler that would ban women from serving in primary church leadership roles within the denomination. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 June 2026

Slimani is French president Emmanuel Macron’s personal representative for the promotion of the French language and culture, and was the chair of the jury for the 2023 International Booker Prize. —Literary Hub, 10 June 2026

Like any memorial account, a black-and-white headshot of the former president accompanies a sentimental mission statement. —Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesident-, praesidens, from present participle of praesidēre

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing president

• co-president
• president-elect
• vice president

Rhymes for president

• circumvent
• discontent
• fundament
• malcontent
• occident
• orient
• presidente
• reinvent
• represent
• underwent
• accent
• advent

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

presidential

ˌprez(-ə)-ˈden-chəl 

adjective

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

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

presidential

ˌpre-zə-ˈden-chəl 

adjective

presidentially adverb

presidentship noun