provost

noun

pro·​vost ˈprō-ˌvōst 

ˈprä-vəst,

ˈprō-vəst,

 especially before another noun  ˌprō-(ˌ)vō

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

Examples of provost in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cherie Dawson, vice provost for faculty affairs at the University of Louisville and a professor of criminal justice, served as the forum’s facilitator. —Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025

The research highlights how universities are deploying multi-unit governance structures—bringing together IT, teaching and learning teams, libraries, provost offices, and AI centers to collaboratively shape AI policies and system use. —Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Amid the raging debate over the proper role of generative AI in schools, a vice provost at New York University suggested colleges revive some educational practices that date back to medieval times, namely focusing on oral instruction and examination in the classroom. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025

However, Matthew Rascoff, the vice provost for digital education at Stanford, said that AI companies need to develop more technology that fosters learning as a social exercise, rather than the current model in which AI tools tend to help one person at a time. —Nic F. Anderson, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing provost

• provost court
• provost guard
• provost marshal

Kids Definition

provost

noun

pro·​vost ˈprō-ˌvōst 

ˈpräv-əst,

 before "marshal" often  ˌprō-vō

: a high managing officer (as in a university)