presidential

adjective

pres·​i·​den·​tial ˌpre-zə-ˈden(t)-shəl How to pronounce presidential (audio)
ˌprez-ˈden(t)-
1
a
: of, relating to, or befitting a president or a president's authority
presidential duties/responsibilities
a presidential pardon
a presidential manner/bearing
the presidential library
b
: of or relating to the election of a president
the presidential campaign
a presidential convention
c
: performing functions delegated by or under the authority of a president
a presidential committee
a presidential agent
2
: of, based upon, or having the characteristics of presidential government
a presidential system
a presidential republic
presidentially adverb
a presidentially appointed judge

Examples of presidential in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It should be noted that all but one recent Democratic presidential nomination fights have been won by the more centrist candidate, though progressives sometimes wielded power over its subsequent ideological course. Carl Leubsdorf, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024 In the presidential race, Kennedy initially had sought the Democratic nomination, then ran as an independent. Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024 Ramaswamy is a former biotech company executive who lost to Trump in the Republican presidential primaries this year. David Ingram, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024 Musk said that his pro-Trump political action committee America PAC will also seek to sway the course of the 2028 presidential primaries. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 13 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for presidential 

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of presidential was in 1582

Dictionary Entries Near presidential

Cite this Entry

“Presidential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presidential. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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