Lord Chancellor

American  

noun

plural

Lord Chancellors

1. the highest judicial officer of the British crown: law adviser of the ministry, keeper of the great seal, presiding officer in the House of Lords, etc.

---

Lord Chancellor British  

noun

1. government the cabinet minister who is head of the judiciary in England and Wales and Speaker of the House of Lords

---

Etymology

Origin of Lord Chancellor

First recorded in 1490–1500

Example Sentences

The measure came after retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Brian Leveson was asked by the Lord Chancellor to come up with a series of proposals to reduce the backlog in the courts.

From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025

Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Brian Leveson was asked by the Lord Chancellor to come up with a series of proposals to reduce the backlog, in a process which began back in December 2024.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

Jenrick, who has not commented, shadows the Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood, the cabinet minister who oversees the independence of the courts.

From BBC • Sep. 3, 2025

It was carried out by the former Conservative Lord Chancellor David Gauke after prisons across Wales and England almost reached capacity last summer.

From BBC • May 23, 2025

“I have always thought you would have made a first-rate Lord Chancellor,” he told his friend, and “I now appeal to you as Lord Chancellor!’

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman