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

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 formsun·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 Formschancellorship, 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

Word Origin and History for chancellor

chancellor

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.