POTUS

abbreviation or noun

ˈpō-təs 

variants or less commonly Potus

: the president of the United States

—often used like a nickname

The Bushes held their first state dinner. POTUS served buffalo meat, wore cowboy boots and welcomed Clint Eastwood.

—Newsweek

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some other acronyms like POTUS?

The oldest -OTUS ("of the United States") acronym is SCOTUS ("Supreme Court of the United States"), in use since the 1870s. POTUS ("President of the United States") is the second oldest, coming some twenty years after SCOTUS. FLOTUS ("First Lady of the United States") is another, thought to have originated in the 1980s. Less common than these, but still occasionally found, is VPOTUS ("Vice President of the United States").

Is POTUS always capitalized?

The most common form of the word is POTUS, although it is also found as Potus. Less common, and formerly used more frequently in the early 20th century, is potus.

What is the origin of the word POTUS?

POTUS is an acronym created by taking the first letter of each word in "President of the United States." According to our earliest records of its use, it came into being in the 1890s as an abbreviation used by telegraph operators. POTUS was likely based on the slightly older SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States), which had been used by telegraph operators since the 1870s.

Examples of POTUS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Paramount has reiterated repeatedly that the move is a financial one but many consider it to be influenced by Trump, and the POTUS has loudly celebrated the decision. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2025

On the horizon are two original shows on SiriusXM, including a sports show on Mad Dog Radio Channel 82 and a political show on POTUS Channel 124, both to be hosted by Smith. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2025

The company is launching two new original shows on SiriusXM next month: a sports show on Mad Dog Radio Channel 82 and a political show on POTUS Channel 124. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025

All this is to say, give credit to the POTUS for at least pushing the ball down the field. —Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025

But in February, just four weeks after his second inauguration, POTUS purged the historically bipartisan Kennedy Center board of any Democratic members. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 13 Aug. 2025

Earlier this week, attorney Nicole Westmoreland, another member of Combs’ legal team, claimed that POTUS had been contacted regarding Combs’ conviction. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law’s interview Saturday on her Fox News show with Charlamagne Tha God has really gotten under POTUS’ thin and artificially tanned skin – and The Breakfast Club co-host is lovin’ it. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2025

The Daily Show is part of the media activism that dupes Christianity and black performers — on a recent episode, hip-hop radio puppet Charlamagne tha God, enlisted as a dutiful member of the show’s cast, earned his position by cheering on death for POTUS. —Armond White, National Review, 25 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for POTUS

• glottis
• epiglottis
• serratus