chancellor

American  

[chan-suh-ler, -sler, chahn-] / ˈtʃæn sə lər, -slər, ˈtʃɑn- /

noun

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

2. the chief administrative officer in certain American universities.

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

4. the priest in charge of a Roman Catholic chancery.

5. the title of various important judges and other high officials.

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

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

---

chancellor British  

/ -slə, ˈtʃɑːnsələ /

noun

1. the head of the government in several European countries

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

3. the honorary head of a university Compare vice chancellor

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

5. the chief secretary of an embassy

6. Christianity a clergyman acting as the law officer of a bishop

7. archaic the chief secretary of a prince, nobleman, etc

---

Other Word Forms

• chancellorship
  noun
• underchancellor
  noun

Etymology

Origin of chancellor

before 1100; Middle English chanceler < Anglo-French < Late Latin cancellārius doorkeeper, literally, man at the barrier ( see chancel, -er ²); replacing Middle English canceler, Old English ≪ Late Latin, as above

Explanation

Use the noun chancellor to describe the president of your college, or the head of the German government. The word chancellor is often capitalized, depending on whom it's being used to describe. Many governments use the term to describe people with varying amounts of power, from the head of state to judges and financial officials. The head of a university is frequently called a chancellor too. The Latin root is cancellarius, an usher or guard in a court of law.

Example Sentences

In April, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK was not facing an immediate shortage of petrol, diesel, or jet fuel.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approval rating has plunged along with economic growth expectations.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz drew the president’s ire after he said on Monday that the U.S. didn’t have an effective strategy to end the Iran war.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Health Secretary Wes Streeting were among those who spoke up on this.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

The Chancellor steepled his fingers and spoke without preamble.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• administrator
• agent
• bureaucrat
• civil servant
• commissioner
• director
• executive
• leader
• manager
• minister
• officer
• representative
• secretary