chancellor

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

/ ˈtʃæn sə lər, -slər, ˈtʃɑn- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR chancellor ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the chief minister of state in certain parliamentary governments, as in Germany; prime minister; premier.

the chief administrative officer in certain American universities.

a secretary, as to a king or noble or of an embassy.

the priest in charge of a Roman Catholic chancery.

the title of various important judges and other high officials.

(in some states of the U.S.) the judge of a court of equity or chancery.

British. the honorary, nonresident, titular head of a university.

Nearby words

chance on, chance-medley, chanceful, chancel, chancellery, chancellor, chancellor of the duchy of lancaster, chancellor of the exchequer, chancellorship, chancellorsville, chancellorsville, battle of

Compare vice-chancellor.

Origin of chancellor

before 1100; Middle English chanceler < Anglo-French < Late Latin cancellārius doorkeeper, literally, man at the barrier (see chancel, -er²); replacing Middle English canceler, Old English ≪ Late Latin, as above

Related forms

un·der·chan·cel·lor, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chancellor

Former Ole Miss chancellor Robert Khayat explains how his school solved the problem.
Stars and Bars on Cars in Texas|Robert Khayat|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As chancellor of the University of Mississippi, Robert Khayat helped remove confederate flags from the football stadium.
Rebels Rise Again Over Flag Banning|Robert Khayat|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But in her clear-eyed understanding of the Russian threat, the Chancellor is an exception among the German political class.
Why We Need to Spy on the Germans|James Kirchick|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The chancellor seemed what can only be described as nervously-at-ease throughout the encounter with the six children.
Why 7 Times 8 Tripped Up the UK Chancellor|Tim Teeman|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It was now safely back in its cage, although the chancellor sometimes let it play in the bath, he said.
Why 7 Times 8 Tripped Up the UK Chancellor|Tim Teeman|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The bill was introduced and carried through by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
A History of Banks for Savings in Great Britain and Ireland|William Lewins
He was the first chancellor of the state, from 1777 to February 1801, and is best known as “Chancellor” Livingston.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 16, Slice 7|Various
Mr. Blake was universally pointed out as the man best fitted for the post of Chancellor.
The Canadian Portrait Gallery Volume 3|John Charles Dent
During this period he acted as tutor to the two sons of Calignon, chancellor of Navarre.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 1|Various
De Maupeou, the chancellor, was exiled; this caused universal joy.
Memoirs Of The Court Of Marie Antoinette, Queen Of France, Complete|Madame Campan

British Dictionary definitions for chancellor

chancellor

/ (ˈtʃɑːnsələ, -slə) /

noun

the head of the government in several European countries

US the president of a university or, in some colleges, the chief administrative officer

British and Canadian the honorary head of a universityCompare vice chancellor (def. 1)

US (in some states) the presiding judge of a court of chancery or equity

British the chief secretary of an embassy

Christianity a clergyman acting as the law officer of a bishop

archaic the chief secretary of a prince, nobleman, etc

Derived Forms

chancellorship, noun

Word Origin for chancellor

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

chancellor

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of chancellor

Related forms

Examples from the Web for chancellor

British Dictionary definitions for chancellor

chancellor

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for chancellor