moderator

noun

mod·​er·​a·​tor ˈmä-də-ˌrā-tər 

plural moderators

1

: someone who presides over an assembly, meeting, or discussion: such as

a

: the chairman of a discussion group

b

: a person who administers an online forum, chat room, or group

c

: the nonpartisan presiding officer of a town meeting

d

: the presiding officer of a Presbyterian governing body

2

: one who arbitrates : mediator

3

: a substance (such as graphite) used for slowing neutrons in a nuclear reactor

moderatorship

ˈmä-də-ˌrā-tər-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• chair
• chairman
• chairperson
• president
• presider
• prolocutor
• speaker

Examples of moderator in a Sentence

The moderator allowed audience members to ask the governor questions.

She acts as the moderator in our office meetings.

Recent Examples on the Web

After a question from moderator Dana Bash on their ages (Trump is 78 and Biden was 81 at the time), the two started challenging one another to a round of golf. —Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024

Join moderator Jeffrey Goldberg, McKay Coppins of The Atlantic, Jane Mayer of The New Yorker, and Tarini Parti of The Wall Street Journal to discuss this and more. —The Editors, The Atlantic, 7 Dec. 2024

Welker interviewed Trump last year in her debut as permanent moderator of Meet the Press. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2024

The radio personality then got up from his seat at the Hot Topics table, walked over toward Goldberg's moderator chair, and embraced her. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1560, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

moderator

noun

mod·​er·​a·​tor ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt-ər 

1

: one that moderates: as

a

: the leader of a Presbyterian governing body

b

: the chairperson of a town meeting

c

: the chairperson of a discussion group (as on television)

2

: a substance (as graphite) used for slowing down neutrons in a nuclear reactor

Medical Definition

moderator

noun

mod·​er·​a·​tor ˈmäd-ə-ˌrāt-ər 

: a substance (as graphite, deuterium in heavy water, or beryllium) used for slowing down neutrons in a nuclear reactor