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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

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

Past

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

Future

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

The $30 trillion Treasury market is taking a wait-and-see approach to the U.S.-Iran peace framework deal and to Kevin Warsh’s first meeting as Federal Reserve chair.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

Kevin Warsh is set to host his first meeting as Federal Reserve chairman on Wednesday, taking over from Jerome Powell, who served as the 16th chair of the Federal Reserve from 2018 to 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

As well as a seat in the press box, a chair in each France news conference is being left empty to highlight his case.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026

For the first time this week, Emma Raducanu sat on her chair and looked forlorn.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

So I pulled up another chair, and sat down beside them.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Related Words

• armchair
• bench
• recliner