chancellor
[chan-suh-ler, -sler, chahn-]
- 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.
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Compare vice-chancellor.
Origin of chancellor
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chancellor
Contemporary Examples
Former Ole Miss chancellor Robert Khayat explains how his school solved the problem.
As chancellor of the University of Mississippi, Robert Khayat helped remove confederate flags from the football stadium.
But in her clear-eyed understanding of the Russian threat, the Chancellor is an exception among the German political class.
The chancellor seemed what can only be described as nervously-at-ease throughout the encounter with the six children.
It was now safely back in its cage, although the chancellor sometimes let it play in the bath, he said.
Historical Examples
His eyes rested a moment on the striking figure of the Chancellor's daughter.
The Coryston FamilyMrs. Humphry Ward
Then Charles took counsel in the matter with the Chancellor.
The Historical Nights Entertainment, Second SeriesRafael Sabatini
Leopold saw it, and remembered, as the Chancellor hoped he would.
The Princess VirginiaC. N. Williamson
Egon gave a laugh at his own repartee, but the Chancellor heard neither.
The Princess VirginiaC. N. Williamson
“The creature must be a fool, or an adventuress,” pronounced the Chancellor.
The Princess VirginiaC. N. Williamson
chancellor
- 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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for chancellor
n.
early 12c., from Old French chancelier (12c.), from Late Latin cancellarius "keeper of the barrier, secretary, usher of a law court," so called because he worked behind a lattice (Latin cancellus) at a basilica or law court (see chancel). In the Roman Empire, a sort of court usher; the post gradually gained importance in the Western kingdoms. A variant form, canceler, existed in Old English, from Old North French, but was replaced by this central French form.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper