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

---

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

Three hours after signing the deal, Trump walked out of the Oval Office with UFC Chief Executive Dana White to cheers from the more than 4,000 spectators.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

He vowed to be early in the Oval Office and said "I won't lose any time".

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

When asked about inflation in the Oval Office on Wednesday, President Trump told reporters the numbers looked great.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026

"We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," he told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

An aide showed the group into the Oval Office.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin