president
Americannoun
-
the highest executive officer of a modern republic, as the chief executive of the United States.
sworn in as the 56th president of Mexico.
-
an officer appointed or elected to preside over an organized body of persons.
-
the chief officer of a college, university, society, corporation, etc.
-
a person who presides.
noun
-
(often capital) the chief executive or head of state of a republic, esp of the US
-
(in the US) the chief executive officer of a company, corporation, etc
-
a person who presides over an assembly, meeting, etc
-
the chief executive officer of certain establishments of higher education
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing president
Mexico - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Mexico - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Mexico - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
His only challenger was Sokoloff, a senior vice president for asset management at Hackman Capital Partners.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026
But on this, her fourth attempt, the daughter of disgraced late president Alberto Fujimori may have her best chance at power.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
In December, Berkshire appointed a new president of consumer products, service and retailing businesses.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
"But we will soon find out," the president said.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
In his later years, Dr. John Martyn Harlow became an important man in Woburn, a state senator, an advisor to the governor, and a bank president.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
