pro tempore

adverb

pro tem·​po·​re prō-ˈtem-pə-rē 

: for the time being

Examples of pro tempore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Seven Republican senators, including Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), the Senate’s president pro tempore, and Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), the former Senate Republican leader, have signed on to a bipartisan bill that would require Congress to approve President Trump’s steep tariffs on trading partners. —Alexander Bolton, The Hill, 7 Apr. 2025

The Iowa Republican also touted his signing of the deal that replaced NAFTA, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in 2020 in his capacity as president pro tempore. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025

Grassley, the president pro tempore of the Senate, has an extensive history focusing on financial issues, having served on multiple occasions as chair of the Finance Committee. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025

The board Tuesday also updated the rules over how supervisors name their officers — the chair, vice chair and chair pro tempore. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pro tempore

adverb

pro tem·​po·​re prō-ˈtem-pə-rē 

: for the present

president pro tempore

Legal Definition

pro tempore

adverb or adjective

pro tem·​po·​re

prō-ˈtem-pə-rē, -pō-ˌrā

: for the time being : chosen or appointed to occupy a position either temporarily or in the absence of a regularly elected official

an administrator pro tempore

Etymology

Latin