president

noun

pres·​i·​dent ˈpre-zə-dənt 

ˈprez-dənt, 

ˈpre-zə-ˌdent

in rapid speech ˈpre-zᵊnt

1

: an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly

2

: an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit

3

: the chief officer of an organization (such as a corporation or institution) usually entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies

4

: the presiding officer of a governmental body

5

a

: an elected official serving as both chief of state and chief political executive in a republic having a presidential government

b

: an elected official having the position of chief of state but usually only minimal political powers in a republic having a parliamentary government

presidentship

ˈpre-zə-dənt-ˌship 

ˈprez-dənt-, 

ˈpre-zə-ˌdent-

noun

Synonyms of president

• chairman
• chairperson
• moderator
• presider

Examples of president in a Sentence

The President will hold a news conference tomorrow.

the president of the international conference on genocide

Recent Examples on the Web

The president’s latest announcement on the sweeping oil deal with Venezuela comes at a critical time for the Republican Party. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026

But Green has been a mainstay in this community’s environmental scene, volunteer-leading Orange Audubon once as president, taking a break, and now doing so again. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026

Nearly three years after leaving his post as Chicago Board of Education vice president, former teacher and CPS parent Sendhil Revuluri is vying to return, announcing his candidacy in October for school board president. — Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

The state superintendent would need approval from the president of the State Board of Education, or the president's designee, before taking that step. — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesident-, praesidens, from present participle of praesidēre

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing president

• co-president
• president-elect
• vice president

Rhymes for president

• circumvent
• discontent
• fundament
• malcontent
• occident
• orient
• presidente
• reinvent
• represent
• underwent
• accent
• advent

Kids Definition

president

noun

pres·​i·​dent ˈprez-əd-ənt 

ˈprez-dənt, 

ˈprez-ə-ˌdent

1

: a person who presides over a meeting

2

: the chief officer of an organization

a bank president

college president

president of our club

3

: the chief executive officer or the chief of state in a republic

presidential

ˌprez(-ə)-ˈden-chəl 

adjective

Legal Definition

president

noun

pres·​i·​dent ˈpre-zə-dənt, -ˌdent 

often capitalized

1

: an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly

2

: an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit

3

: the chief officer of an organization (as a corporation or institution) usually entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies

4

: the presiding officer of a governmental body

the Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate

—U.S. Constitution art. I

5

a

: an elected official serving as both chief of state and chief political executive in a republic having a presidential government

b

: an elected official having the position of chief of state but usually only minimal political powers in a republic having a parliamentary government

presidential

ˌpre-zə-ˈden-chəl 

adjective

presidentially adverb

presidentship noun