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

• chair
• chairman
• chairperson
• moderator
• presider
• prolocutor
• speaker

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 Minnesota Star Tribune also spoke with Tim Marx, former CEO and president of Catholic Charities, where Dolan served as a board member. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025

Claire Shipman, co-chair of Columbia’s board, was named acting president, while Armstrong will return to her previous position heading the medical school. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2025

Johnson said Trump had held himself out as a president who could bring the wars to an end quickly but hasn't. —Time, 1 Apr. 2025

Firelight supports, provides resources to and advocates on behalf of documentary filmmakers of color. Smith, who announced her departure from Firelight Media in July 2024, stayed on as interim president and CEO while the company held a nationwide search for her replacement. —Addie Morfoot, Variety, 1 Apr. 2025

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
• reinvent
• represent
• underwent
• accent
• advent
• ascent

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