president

[prez-i-duhnt]

noun

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

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• presidentially adverb
• presidentship noun
• presidential adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of president¹

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”; preside, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of president¹

C14: via Old French from Late Latin praesidens ruler; see _preside

Example Sentences

This is partly what is behind the current push off-track from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for a return to naturally aspirated engines - on which there has been a development this weekend in Italy.

From BBC

President Biden had extended that protection for Harris beyond the six months after leaving office that vice presidents traditionally get.

From Los Angeles Times

In a blistering statement, Kerry Kennedy, RFK Jr.’s sister and president of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, accused her brother of “undermining trust in science” and “endangering lives” with his restrictive vaccine policies.

From Salon

The nation’s capital is under siege by a president with a taste for authoritarian behavior.

From Salon

There’s been “a dramatic increase in the number of clinical trials testing new therapies,” said Heather Cooper Ortner, president and chief executive of Alzheimer’s Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times