chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər 

1

a

: the secretary of a nobleman, prince, or king

b

: the lord chancellor of Great Britain

c

British : the chief secretary of an embassy

d

: a Roman Catholic priest heading the office in which diocesan business is transacted and recorded

2

a

: the titular head of a British university

b(1)

: a university president

(2)

: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education

3

a

: a lay legal officer or adviser of an Anglican diocese

b

: a judge in a court of chancery or equity in various states of the U.S.

4

: the chief minister of state in some European countries

chancellorship

ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of chancellor in a Sentence

the new chancellor of the university

Recent Examples on the Web

The euro's rally also came amid multiple media reports that Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, had secured support from the country's Green party to ramp up government borrowing. —Chloe Taylor,sawdah Bhaimiya,jenni Reid, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025

Pullin, who will become TCU’s next chancellor in June, noted the importance of local companies hiring students for internships and post-graduation roles. —Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2025

Friedrich Merz, Germany's soon-to-be chancellor, has agreed to a deal with the Social Democrats, his likely partner to form a new coalition government, to tinker with the country's debt-break. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025

Merz, Germany’s likely next chancellor, has seized the moment after the return of Donald Trump to the White House put the transatlantic alliance in turmoil and underlined the urgency for Europe to strengthen its own defenses. —Reuters, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chanceler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, secretary, from cancellus

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing chancellor

• chancellor of the exchequer
• lord chancellor
• vice chancellor

Kids Definition

chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər 

1

: the chief minister of state in some European countries

2

: the head of a university

Legal Definition

chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan-sə-lər 

1

: the head of a chancery: as

a

: the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain

b

: a judge in a court of equity in various states

2

a

: a university president

b

: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education

3

: the chief minister of state in some European countries (as Germany)

Etymology

Old French chancelier royal secretary, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, clerk, from Latin cancellus latticework barrier