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.

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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

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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.”

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Etymology

Origin of Oval Office

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

Example Sentences

“Jimmy Lai, you know, he caused a lot of bedlam,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office earlier this week.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

“It’s a small percentage, but, you know, it’s still money,” he said in the Oval Office.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Still, the absence of a joint Oval Office press appearance could be a a sign that important disagreements remain unresolved.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

"I work out so much, like, about one minute a day, max. If I'm lucky," Trump said before signing the proclamation in the Oval Office.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

Evelyn Lincoln made her way through the clutter of cameras, cables, and bright lights in the Oval Office.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin