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president

American  
[prez-i-duhnt] / ˈprɛz ɪ dənt /

noun

presidents plural
  1. the highest executive officer of a modern republic, as the chief executive of the United States.

    sworn in as the 56th president of Mexico.

  2. an officer appointed or elected to preside over an organized body of persons.

  3. the chief officer of a college, university, society, corporation, etc.

  4. a person who presides.


president British  
/ ˈprɛzɪdənt, ˌprɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl /

noun

  1. (often capital) the chief executive or head of state of a republic, esp of the US

  2. (in the US) the chief executive officer of a company, corporation, etc

  3. a person who presides over an assembly, meeting, etc

  4. the chief executive officer of certain establishments of higher education

"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

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Derived Forms

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Nouns

Etymology

Origin of president

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin praesident- (stem of praesidēns ), noun use of present participle of praesidēre “to preside over, sit in front of”; see preside, -ent

Explanation

The president is the person officially in charge — whether it’s of a republic, a company, a college, or a fan club. This is a word for a leader, like the President of the United States or the president of the National Football League Players' Union. Many organizations have presidents, and they're usually elected by members of that group. When it’s followed by a name, the title president gets a capital p, as in President Obama. Whether with a P or p, the job of a president is to preside in a formal or official capacity.

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Vocabulary lists containing president

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.

Dar Sleeper, vice president of product and design at the company, says: "While many customers will buy a NEO outright, a subscription significantly lowers the upfront cost, making it affordable for far more people."

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026

“We are proud to deepen our relationship with PwC as they establish their new presence at 2121 Avenue of the Stars,” said Roger DeWames, president of Irvine Co.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026

Cook, the chief justice created an exception to this rule for the Federal Reserve by a 5–4 vote, prohibiting the president from removing without good cause.

From Slate • Jul. 6, 2026

“The 2026 World Cup and the U.S. men’s national team have captivated sports fans nationwide, and it’s certainly showing in betting volume,” Joe Maloney, president of the Sports Betting Alliance, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 6, 2026

With the full knowledge and support of the president, CIA planners and gadget-makers began devising plots to humiliate the Cuban leader.

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

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