provost

noun pro·vost \ ˈprō-ˌvōst , ˈprä-vəst , ˈprō-vəst , especially before another noun ˌprō-(ˌ)vō \

|Updated on: 23 Jun 2018

Definition of provost

1 : the chief dignitary of a collegiate or cathedral chapter

2 : the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh

3 : the keeper of a prison

4 : a high-ranking university administrative officer

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Recent Examples of provost from the Web

University of Houston-Victoria and community leaders broke ground last Tuesday with ceremonial shovels to signify the beginning of construction on a new student residence hall named after the university’s provost emeritus and his wife.

— staff report, Houston Chronicle, "University of Houston-Victoria breaks ground on new student residence hall," 8 June 2018
Media outlets quickly seized on the Fresno State provost’s comment that a tenured professor can be fired.

— anna north, Vox, "Conservatives keep sparking “free speech” battles. When a Muslim professor tweeted about racism, guess what happened?," 24 Apr. 2018
Bendapudi's the second woman to hold the top job at the school in its history after Carol Garrison rose from provost at the university to its interim president in 2002.

— justin sayers, The Courier-Journal, "In Bendapudi, a female pick with academic past, U of L faculty see progress and stability," 3 Apr. 2018
She was told in a letter from the provost that the professor was not to make any contact with her, according to the documents.

— kelsey ryan, kansascity, "Emporia State prof tried to kiss student. He’s still employed there. | The Kansas City Star," 15 Feb. 2018
Also in attendance was Robert Banks, who handled personnel issues in the provost's office.

— david jesse, Detroit Free Press, "MSU knew about ex-dean's sex comments in '05. It didn't end there.," 10 May 2018
Past experience: Reynolds served as a chemistry professor and chemistry department chairman, the interim dean of the School of Extended Studies and vice provost for Budget Planning and Internationalization in the Office of Academic Affairs.

— nicole blanchard and dana oland, idahostatesman, "One of these five people will be Boise State University's next president | Idaho Statesman," 18 Apr. 2018
Bendapudi has been Kansas' provost since May of 2016 and was the dean of the university's business school before that.

— jake lourim, The Courier-Journal, "Neeli Bendapudi, on Louisville's scandals, promises 'a culture of openness'," 3 Apr. 2018
Altmann, provost at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, was named the next president of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster on Tuesday.

— susan snyder, Philly.com, "Franklin & Marshall taps Bucknell provost as new president," 22 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'provost.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of provost

Middle English, from Old English profost & Anglo-French provost, from Medieval Latin propositus, alteration of praepositus, from Latin, one in charge, director, from past participle of praeponere to place at the head — more at preposition

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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