plural deans
1
: a person who is in charge of one of the parts of a university (such as a college or school)
She's the dean of the university's business school.
the dean of liberal arts
2
: a person whose job is to give advice to the students in a college or high school and to make sure that they obey the school's rules
the dean of students
3
US
: a person who has more experience in or knowledge about a particular profession, subject, etc., than anyone or almost anyone
She's considered the dean [=doyen] of American architecture.
4
: a Christian priest who is in charge of several other priests or churches
Cite this Entry
“Dean.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/dean. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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