president-elect

American  

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

noun

1. a president after election but before induction into office.

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president-elect British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of president-elect

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

He startled Beijing by taking Tsai’s congratulatory call on his election, making him the first U.S. president-elect to speak directly to a Taiwanese leader since 1979, when Washington severed formal diplomatic ties with the island.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Teachers, however, are able to monitor their children and adapt activities to encourage development in appropriate ways, said Gennie Gorback, president-elect of the California Kindergarten Assn.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

Celebrations at the headquarters of Honduras' president-elect Nasry Asfura as election authorities announce the right-wing candidate as the winner.

From Barron's • Dec. 24, 2025

“The diagnosis is really more than just transient sadness and the normal expected grief from the loss of a family member,” says Dr. Sanjay Mathew, president-elect of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

Mr. Pinkerton escorted the president-elect through the station and to the waiting arms of his reliable friend.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan