1
: one that directs : leader
2
a
: a member of the clergy (as of the Protestant Episcopal Church) in charge of a parish
b
: an incumbent of a Church of England benefice in full possession of its rights
c
: a Roman Catholic priest directing a church with no pastor or one whose pastor has other duties
3
: the head of a university or school
Examples of rector in a Sentence
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Among the major threats to Rocha Moya’s political survival was the outcry about the 2024 shooting death of his one-time chief political rival, Héctor Melesio Cuén Ojeda, a former lawmaker and university rector.
—
Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Throughout his work, the monsignor has served numerous parishes and schools across the local archdiocese, including Our Lady’s in Scituate, Our Lady of the Assumption in Lynnfield and Saint Peter Parish in Cambridge, and became rector of the Cathedral in 2008.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Instead, the words written in her autobiography served as the guide for the two-hour service filled with hymns and scriptures, as Christ Episcopal Church rector Father Jonathan Archer read a passage from the book which was published in 2000 during her memorial on Friday.
—Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Sophie D’Amours, rector at Université Laval, adds that the university prioritizes the wellbeing and growth of its employees in part because the hope is for employees to stay long-term and build their careers at ULaval.
—Rachel Rabkin Peachman, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
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Steve Fisher, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Throughout his work, the monsignor has served numerous parishes and schools across the local archdiocese, including Our Lady’s in Scituate, Our Lady of the Assumption in Lynnfield and Saint Peter Parish in Cambridge, and became rector of the Cathedral in 2008.
—Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Instead, the words written in her autobiography served as the guide for the two-hour service filled with hymns and scriptures, as Christ Episcopal Church rector Father Jonathan Archer read a passage from the book which was published in 2000 during her memorial on Friday.
—Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Sophie D’Amours, rector at Université Laval, adds that the university prioritizes the wellbeing and growth of its employees in part because the hope is for employees to stay long-term and build their careers at ULaval.
—Rachel Rabkin Peachman, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rector
Cite this Entry
“Rector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rector. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rector
noun
rec·tor
ˈrek-tər 
1
: a member of the clergy who has charge of a church or parish
2
: the priest in charge of certain Roman Catholic religious houses
3
: the head of a university or school
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