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president-elect

American

[prez-i-duhnt-i-lekt] / ˈprɛz ɪ dənt ɪˈlɛkt /

noun

a president after election but before induction into office.

president-elect British

noun

a person who has been elected president but has not yet entered office

"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

Etymology

Origin of president-elect

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

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.

In 2016, he spoke to then leader Tsai Ing-wen, when he was president-elect.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

Plus, Wintour brought her back to Vogue ahead of the Biden administration to style her first-ever cover of the mother ship magazine, which featured Kamala Harris, then vice president-elect, and brought things full circle.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

It took longer than expected, but Nasry Asfura has gone from businessman to mayor to president-elect of Honduras, carrying the blessing of US President Donald Trump who has described him as a "friend of freedom."

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

Dr Bruno Halpern, endocrinologist and president-elect of the World Obesity Federation, said research suggested the drugs for people with obesity or diabetes were "relatively safe".

From BBC • Nov. 29, 2025

“Ladies, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Abraham Lincoln, president-elect of the United States.”

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023