provost

noun

pro·​vost ˈprō-ˌvōst 

ˈprä-vəst,

ˈprō-vəst,

 especially before another noun  ˌprō-(ˌ)vō

1

: the chief dignitary of a collegiate or cathedral chapter

2

: the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh

3

: the keeper of a prison

4

: a high-ranking university administrative officer

Examples of provost in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, the provost’s office is harnessing the power of NotebookLM to summarize complex documents and conduct in-depth analyses that inform university policies. —Dan Fitzpatrick, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

Autry is vice president of the National Space Society, associate provost for Space Commercialization and Strategy at the University of Central Florida and a visiting professor at Imperial College London, as well as an author and entrepreneur. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2025

Alums have gone on to become university provosts, deans of business schools, professors and business leaders. —Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 24 Mar. 2025

Presently, Jackson is provost and senior vice president for academic and student affairs at Minnesota State where he’s served since 2019. —Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English profost & Anglo-French provost, from Medieval Latin propositus, alteration of praepositus, from Latin, one in charge, director, from past participle of praeponere to place at the head — more at preposition

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing provost

• provost court
• provost guard
• provost marshal

Kids Definition

provost

noun

pro·​vost ˈprō-ˌvōst 

ˈpräv-əst,

 before "marshal" often  ˌprō-vō

: a high managing officer (as in a university)