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

Prior to his appointment as president, Swenson served as the school’s associate provost and executive dean of the College of Business and Technology. —Stephanie Kuzydym, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Dec. 2025

In a statement released Friday, the nuns said the provost's offer is nothing short of a gag order. —Esme Nicholson, NPR, 1 Dec. 2025

The provost’s spokesman, Harald Schiffl, told Austria’s public broadcaster ORF that a deal would be good for all parties. —Nick Duffy, NBC news, 28 Nov. 2025

Weiss is currently Homewood Professor of the Humanities and senior advisor to the provost for the Arts at Johns Hopkins University. —News Desk, Artforum, 21 Nov. 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)