chancellor

[ chan-suh-ler, -sler, chahn- ]

noun

1. the chief minister of state in certain parliamentary governments, as in Germany; prime minister; premier.
2. the chief administrative officer in certain American universities.
3. a secretary, as to a king or noble or of an embassy.
4. the priest in charge of a Roman Catholic chancery.
5. the title of various important judges and other high officials.
6. (in some states of the U.S.) the judge of a court of equity or chancery.
7. British. the honorary, nonresident, titular head of a university.

chancellor

/ ˈtʃɑːnsələ; -slə /

noun

1. the head of the government in several European countries
2. the president of a university or, in some colleges, the chief administrative officer
3. See vice chancellor
   the honorary head of a university Compare vice chancellor
4. (in some states) the presiding judge of a court of chancery or equity
5. the chief secretary of an embassy
6. Christianity a clergyman acting as the law officer of a bishop
7. archaic.
   the chief secretary of a prince, nobleman, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈchancellorˌship, noun

Other Words From

• under·chancel·lor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chancellor¹

before 1100; Middle English chanceler < Anglo-French < Late Latin cancellārius doorkeeper, literally, man at the barrier ( chancel, -er ² ); replacing Middle English canceler, Old English ≪ Late Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of chancellor¹

C11: from Anglo-French chanceler, from Late Latin cancellārius porter, secretary, from Latin cancellī lattice; see chancel

Example Sentences

When Hitler became chancellor on Jan. 30, 1933, Hildebrand was confronted with a choice: Would he remain in Nazi Germany?

From The Daily Beast

Most frustratingly for the school chancellor, this made it all but impossible to fire terrible teachers.

From The Daily Beast

As Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, Roth took a one- way train from Berlin to Paris, never to return.

From The Daily Beast

Former Ole Miss chancellor Robert Khayat explains how his school solved the problem.

From The Daily Beast

As chancellor of the University of Mississippi, Robert Khayat helped remove confederate flags from the football stadium.

From The Daily Beast

He passed through all the honors of the law, and in 1836 became lord chancellor.

From Project Gutenberg

The chief official of the court is called a chancellor, the others vice chancellors.

From Project Gutenberg

The prime-minister, the chancellor of the exchequer, two other members of the cabinet, and an ambassador were his companions.

From Project Gutenberg

Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury, made lord chancellor in consideration of his services in crowning king John.

From Project Gutenberg

The Chancellor stopped him as he left the King's presence, telling him he should show more reserve and pick his words.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• administrator
• agent
• bureaucrat
• civil servant
• commissioner
• director
• executive
• leader
• manager
• minister
• officer
• representative
• secretary