chair

American  

[chair] / tʃɛər /

noun

1. a seat, especially for one person, usually having four legs for support and a rest for the back and often having rests for the arms.

2. something that serves as a chair or supports like a chair.

   The two men clasped hands to make a chair for their injured companion.

3. a seat of office or authority.

4. a position of authority, as of a judge, professor, etc.

5. the person occupying a seat of office, especially the chairperson of a meeting.

   The speaker addressed the chair.

6. (in an orchestra) the position of a player, assigned by rank; desk.

   first clarinet chair.

7. Informal. the chair, electric chair.

8. chairlift.

9. sedan chair.

10. (in reinforced-concrete construction) a device for maintaining the position of reinforcing rods or strands during the pouring operation.

11. a glassmaker's bench having extended arms on which a blowpipe is rolled in shaping glass.

12. British Railroads. a metal block for supporting a rail and securing it to a crosstie or the like.

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verb (used with object)

chairs, present (3rd person singular) chaired, past participle, past chairing present participle

1. to place or seat in a chair.

2. to install in office.

3. to preside over; act as chairperson of.

   to chair a committee.

4. British. to carry (a hero or victor) aloft in triumph.

verb (used without object)

chairs, present (3rd person singular) chaired, past participle, past chairing present participle

1. to preside over a meeting, committee, etc.

idioms

1. take the chair,

   1. to begin or open a meeting.

   2. to preside at a meeting; act as chairperson.

2. get the chair, to be sentenced to die in the electric chair.

chair British  

/ tʃɛə /

noun

1. a seat with a back on which one person sits, typically having four legs and often having arms

2. an official position of authority

   a chair on the board of directors

3. the person chairing a debate or meeting

   the speaker addressed the chair

4. a professorship

   the chair of German

5. railways an iron or steel cradle bolted to a sleeper in which the rail sits and is locked in position

6. short for sedan chair

7. chairing a debate or meeting

8. to preside as chairman for a meeting, etc

9. an informal name for electric chair

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verb

1. to preside over (a meeting)

2. to carry aloft in a sitting position after a triumph or great achievement

3. to provide with a chair of office

4. to install in a chair

chair More Idioms  

1. see musical chairs.

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Gender

Is it chair, chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson? See chairperson.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unchair
  verb (used with object)
• chairless
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has chaired
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have chaired
  perfect
• am chairing
  progressive 1st person singular
• have been chairing
  perfect progressive
• is chairing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• has been chairing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• chairing
  participle
• are chairing
  progressive
• chairs
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had chaired
  perfect
• had been chairing
  perfect progressive
• was chairing
  progressive singular
• chaired
  participle
• chaired
  simple
• were chairing
  progressive plural

Future

• will chair
  simple
• will have chaired
  perfect
• will have been chairing
  perfect progressive
• will be chairing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of chair

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English chaiere, from Old French, from Latin cathedra; see cathedra

Explanation

A chair is a seat with four legs and a back to lean against. When you invite a large group for dinner, you have to make sure you find chairs for all of your guests. As opposed to a bench, couch, or sofa, a chair usually seats one single person. You might have wooden kitchen chairs and a comfortable, upholstered chair with arms for watching TV. Another kind of chair is the leader of an organization or group, and it's also a verb meaning to lead such a group: "I've been asked to chair the monthly meetings of the stamp collectors' club." The Old French root is chaiere, "seat or throne."

Example Sentences

SEC Chair Paul Atkins beat the court to what was eventually coming.

From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026

UC Academic Senate Chair Ahmet Palazoglu said the body is examining UC admission policies and requirements.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

Former Fed Chair Jerome Powell on Sunday called the Federal Reserve’s independence “a priceless asset” that must be protected, in one of his first major speeches since stepping down from his post earlier this month.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026

"No parts of England are currently in drought, but the risk increases the longer it remains hot and dry," Helen Wakeham, Environment Agency Director of Water and Chair of the National Drought Group, said.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

"He may be dead," Esgred agreed, "and if he lives, why, he has spent so long at sea, he'd be half a stranger here. The ironbom would never seat a stranger in the Seastone Chair."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• armchair
• bench
• recliner