chairman

American  

[chair-muhn] / ˈtʃɛər mən /

noun

plural

chairmen

1. the presiding officer of a meeting, committee, board, etc.

2. the administrative head of a department in a high school, college, or university.

3. someone employed to carry or wheel a person in a chair.

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verb (used with object)

chairmaned, chairmanned, chairmaning, chairmanning

1. to act as or be chairman of (a meeting, committee, etc.).

chairman British  

/ ˈtʃɛəmən /

noun

1. Also called: chairperson.   chairwoman.  a person who presides over a company's board of directors, a committee, a debate, an administrative department, etc

2. history someone who carries a sedan chair

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Usage

Chairman can seem inappropriate when applied to a woman, while chairwoman can be offensive. Chair and chairperson can be applied to either a man or a woman; chair is generally preferred to chairperson

Gender

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

Other Word Forms

• chairmanship noun

Etymology

Origin of chairman

First recorded in 1645–55; chair + -man

Example Sentences

Glasner said he had communicated his decision to chairman Steve Parish in October, the same month BBC Sport reported that Palace's hopes of keeping him beyond this season were remote at best.

From BBC

He told clients at a closed-door event recently that Warsh would be a “great chairman.”

From Barron's

Bernard Arnault, the chairman and CEO, also knows that experiences are important.

From Barron's

Its board chairman said Paramount’s bid provides “insufficient value” and relies on “an extraordinary amount of debt financing.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Sources told BBC Sport Glasner was offered a new deal last summer, but he confirmed on Friday he had informed chairman Steve Parish he would not sign a new contract in October.

From BBC

Related Words

• administrator
• chairperson
• chairwoman
• director
• leader
• spokesman