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
Recent Examples on the Web
My class—led by the church rector, Nigel Massey, a boyish-looking Brit who studied theology at Oxford—was focussed on the subjunctive as used to express uncertainty.
—
Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
His leadership style was further shaped while serving as rector of the Colegio de San José in Buenos Aires from 1980 to 1986.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
Marcia, along with the late Rev. J. Kenneth Major, then rector of The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, were among several community leaders who played a pivotal role in helping to calm the community during the unrest.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
The church’s rector, also a slaveholder, was very concerned with converting Black and Indigenous Bostonians.
—Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rector
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Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 9 May 2025
His leadership style was further shaped while serving as rector of the Colegio de San José in Buenos Aires from 1980 to 1986.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
Marcia, along with the late Rev. J. Kenneth Major, then rector of The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, were among several community leaders who played a pivotal role in helping to calm the community during the unrest.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2025
The church’s rector, also a slaveholder, was very concerned with converting Black and Indigenous Bostonians.
—Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rector
Cite this Entry
“Rector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rector. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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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