full professor

American  

noun

1. professor.

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full professor British  

noun

1. a university teacher of the highest academic rank

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Etymology

Origin of full professor

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

Example Sentences

Over the course of her career, she published hundreds of scientific papers and became the first woman to be appointed a full professor at Harvard University.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Back in the U.S., in 1972, Mr. Edwards started teaching at the Livingston College campus of New Jersey’s Rutgers University, where he became a full professor in 1980 and retired 22 years later.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Baltimore’s discovery was attended by great fanfare and led to his promotion to full professor at MIT.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2025

It is just one of many alleged transgressions by Hofman, a full professor and former dean of Leiden’s archaeology faculty, and Hoogland, formerly a senior lecturer there.

From Science Magazine • May 19, 2024

“Everybody says he’s going to be full professor next year.”

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen