moderator

noun

mod·​er·​a·​tor ˈmä-də-ˌrā-tər 

plural moderators

1

: someone who presides over an assembly, meeting, or discussion: such as

a

: the chairman of a discussion group

b

: a person who administers an online forum, chat room, or group

c

: the nonpartisan presiding officer of a town meeting

d

: the presiding officer of a Presbyterian governing body

2

: one who arbitrates : mediator

3

: a substance (such as graphite) used for slowing neutrons in a nuclear reactor

moderatorship

ˈmä-də-ˌrā-tər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• chair
• chairman
• chairperson
• president
• presider
• prolocutor
• speaker

Examples of moderator in a Sentence

The moderator allowed audience members to ask the governor questions.

She acts as the moderator in our office meetings.

Recent Examples on the Web

Though moderators control questioning during such forums, too, candidates have a tendency to end up chiming in on each other’s answers when seated next to each other. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025

The moderator asked her about her declaration, made eight years ago, to work with a female director every 18 months; in those eight years, she’s actually worked with 27 (in Australia, math is different). —Rachel Handler, Vulture, 18 May 2025

Fill-in moderator Joy Behar took over for Goldberg on Wednesday's telecast, which Goldberg missed due to her sickness. —Joey Nolfi Published, EW.com, 15 May 2025

Machine learning models trained on vast datasets of previous violations—and constantly refreshed with new, real-time data—can identify patterns of deception that are beyond the comprehension of human moderators. —Sergii Denysenko, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for moderator

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

moderator

noun

mod·​er·​a·​tor ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt-ər 

1

: one that moderates: as

a

: the leader of a Presbyterian governing body

b

: the chairperson of a town meeting

c

: the chairperson of a discussion group (as on television)

2

: a substance (as graphite) used for slowing down neutrons in a nuclear reactor

Medical Definition

moderator

noun

mod·​er·​a·​tor ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt-ər 

: a substance (as graphite, deuterium in heavy water, or beryllium) used for slowing down neutrons in a nuclear reactor