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Oval Office

American  

noun

  1. the office of the president of the United States, located in the White House.

  2. this office regarded as the seat of executive power in the U.S. federal government.


Oval Office British  

noun

  1. the private office of the president of the US, a large oval room in the White House

  2. the US presidency

"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

Oval Office Cultural  
  1. An oval-shaped room in the White House that serves as the official office of the president of the United States. Since the presidency of Richard Nixon, the term has been used to refer to the president himself: “The order came directly from the Oval Office.”


Etymology

Origin of Oval Office

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65; so called from the shape of the room

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I never signed off on that,” the president told aides in the Oval Office, expressing displeasure with Justice Department leadership.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I never signed off on that,” the president said in the Oval Office, expressing displeasure with Justice Department leadership, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal

During testimony before a US Senate committee, Butterfield was asked by Republican Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee if he was aware of any listening devices in the president's Oval Office.

From BBC

Newsom is contemplating a run for president in 2028 and says he remains undecided about whether he will pursue the Oval Office.

From Los Angeles Times

“Pretty soon we’re not going to know anybody,” he said Tuesday in the Oval Office.

From The Wall Street Journal