president

American  

[prez-i-duhnt] / ˈprɛz ɪ dənt /

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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• presidential adjective
• presidentially adverb
• presidentship noun

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”; preside, -ent

Example Sentences

That is just 7.3% of the $1 trillion that Elon Musk and his “DOGE” team promised just before the president took office.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, likely sent a batch of the broadsides to Washington.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Since then, the president has oscillated between saying the US has already won the war and that the military campaign will continue for a number of weeks, usually ranging between two and six.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The president called Woods “a very close friend of mine.”

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2026

Abraham Lincoln won the contest for president of the United States.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan