rector
Americannoun
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a member of the clergy in charge of a parish in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
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Roman Catholic Church. an ecclesiastic in charge of a college, religious house, or congregation.
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Anglican Church. a member of the clergy who has the charge of a parish with full possession of all its rights, tithes, etc.
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the head of certain universities, colleges, and schools.
noun
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Church of England a clergyman in charge of a parish in which, as its incumbent, he would formerly have been entitled to the whole of the tithes Compare vicar
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RC Church a cleric in charge of a college, religious house, or congregation
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Episcopal Church Scottish Episcopal Church a clergyman in charge of a parish
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the head of certain schools or colleges
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(in Scotland) a high-ranking official in a university: now a public figure elected for three years by the students
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of rector
1350–1400; Middle English rectour < Latin rēctor helmsman, ruler, leader, equivalent to reg ( ere ) to rule + -tor -tor
Explanation
A rector is someone with the authority to lead others in religious worship and services. Rectors conduct mass. This word originally applied to the leader of a government, but it has evolved to mean a different type of leader: a religious official with the authorization to lead church services and conduct various religious rituals and sacraments. This term is used mainly in Christian congregations. For members of the flock, the rector provides leadership and wisdom, helping them live as followers of their faith.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Times staff writers Kevin Rector and Ben Wieder contributed to this report.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
But when senior fellow Robert Rector asked about Mr. Carlson, Mr. Roberts replied instead only about Mr. Fuentes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 9, 2025
It tells the story of Rector of Champton, Canon Daniel Clement who finds himself caught up in a murder case when the dead body of one of his parishioners is discovered at the church.
From BBC • Oct. 7, 2025
The Reverend Peter Wright, Rector of Bicester, said: "We hold the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in our prayers."
From BBC • May 18, 2025
Saturday afternoon, April 28 The capital Honorable Rector, Professors, Fellow Qassmates, Friends, Family, I'm really very touched from the bottom of my heart— Minerva shakes her head.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
