proctor

noun

proc·​tor ˈpräk-tər How to pronounce proctor (audio)
plural proctors
: someone who supervises or monitors students:
a
US : someone who oversees student examinations
The primary job of the proctor is to monitor students to ensure they're following testing room rules and not sharing answers.Arika Harron
If a test proctor isn't following protocol, or test-takers haven't been given the correct amount of time, results can be skewed.Alizah Salario
b
British : an officer at a university who is responsible especially for disciplinary measures
At night proctors patrolled the street and dogged your steps if you tried to go into any haunt where the presence of vice was suspected.Samuel Butler
proctor verb, transitive + intransitive
proctored; proctoring; proctors
proctor an exam
Some of the teachers volunteered to proctor.

see also proctorial, proctorship

Examples of proctor 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.
The scandal involved bribing a testing proctor to allow test applicants and their proxies to switch places, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said at a news conference Monday. Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2024 Darian Nikole Wilhite, a proctor at TACTIX, is alleged to have taken bribes to allow Newton to act as a testing proxy. Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 Ahmed Ghazi, the director of minimally invasive and robotic surgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, has used Vuzix headsets for remote teaching, allowing trainees to see from a proctor’s viewpoint. Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 15 Oct. 2024 Those who choose to take the conventional test instead can do that on a home computer, monitored by an online proctor, or at one of the computer stations in a DMV office. Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for proctor 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English procutour procurator, proctor, alteration of procuratour

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of proctor was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near proctor

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

proctor

noun
proc·​tor ˈpräk-tər How to pronounce proctor (audio)
: a person who supervises students during an examination
proctor verb

More from Merriam-Webster on proctor

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!