presidency

American  

[prez-i-duhn-see] / ˈprɛz ɪ dən si /

noun

presidencies plural

1. the office, function, or term of office of a president.

2. (often initial capital letter) the office of president of the United States.

3. Mormon Church.

   1. a local governing body consisting of a council of three.

   2. (often initial capital letter) the highest administrative body, composed of the prophet and his two councilors.

4. the former designation of any of the three original provinces of British India: Bengal, Bombay, and Madras.

---

presidency British  

/ ˈprɛzɪdənsɪ /

noun

1. 1. the office, dignity, or term of a president

   2. (often capital) the office of president of a republic, esp the office of the President of the US

2. Mormon Church

   1. a local administrative council consisting of a president and two executive members

   2. (often capital) the supreme administrative body composed of the Prophet and two councillors

---

Etymology

Origin of presidency

From the Medieval Latin word praesidentia, dating back to 1585–95. See president, -ency

Explanation

A presidency is the executive office of a country, state, company, or other large organization. It's also the way to refer to the whole length of time a president is president: "Washington's presidency ended after two terms." When a candidate is elected to the presidency, that person becomes president, the head of a nation, organization, college, or company. The presidency of the United States has potential to change every four years, when the country holds elections. You can also use presidency to talk about a particular time period, defined by who was president them: "His presidency was a period marked by recession and job loss."

Example Sentences

While the downward trend looks like a story of a presidency in perpetual trouble, political scientists see a more complicated picture.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

She fails all the way up to the vice presidency before, at last, taking the fall for all her bosses’ sins.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

However, Sonko backed Faye's bid for presidency and the pair went on to win - an extraordinary victory given they were both in prison until 10 days before the election.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

In what appeared to be a move laying the ground for his bid at the presidency, Attal opened up about his love life in a book published last month.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

Jefferson had the all-consuming duties of the presidency, then two major retirement projects—the completion of his architectural renovations of Monticello and the creation of the University of Virginia.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• board
• bureau
• cabinet
• committee
• department
• executive
• legislature
• management
• ministry