doyen

[ doi-en, doi-uh n; French dwa-yan ]

/ dɔɪˈɛn, ˈdɔɪ ən; French dwaˈyɛ̃ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR doyen ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural doy·ens [doi-enz, doi-enz; French dwa-yan] /dɔɪˈɛnz, ˈdɔɪ ɛnz; French dwaˈyɛ̃/.

the senior member, as in age, rank, or experience, of a group, class, profession, etc.

Nearby words

doxology, doxorubicin, doxy, doxycycline, doy, doyen, doyenne, doyle, doyle, sir arthur conan, doyley, doz.

Origin of doyen

1665–75; < French; Old French deien < Latin decānus dean¹

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

Examples from the Web for doyen

The details of this doyen club will be found in its proper place, p. 99 et seq.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.
The Emperor made a suitable reply in Chinese which was translated by the Doyen's interpreter.
Two Years in the Forbidden City|The Princess Der Ling
The doyen of the street is Mr. Henry R. Hill, whose two shops are at the extreme east end of the street.
The Book-Hunter in London|William Roberts
So much was made of it that our doyen, M. Got, came to beg me not to make such a scandal, as it reflected on the Comdie Franaise.
My Double Life|Sarah Bernhardt

It is therefore the doyen par excellence, and its rules and orders as carried out in its early days are original and entertaining.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.

British Dictionary definitions for doyen

doyen

/ (ˈdɔɪən, French dway) /

noun

the senior member of a group, profession, or society

Derived Forms

doyenne (dɔɪˈɛn, French dwajɛn), fem n

Word Origin for doyen

C17: from French, from Late Latin decānus leader of a group of ten; see dean

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