presidential
AmericanOther Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of presidential
From the Medieval Latin word praesidentiālis, dating back to 1595–1605. See presidency, -al 1
Explanation
Anything presidential has something to do with a president, or with the office of the presidency. A line of black cars with flashing lights driving down a Washington, DC street is probably the presidential motorcade. In the US, the presidential residence is the White House, and the presidential term is four years. A presidential election can seem like it lasts even longer. You can also use this adjective for things that are typical or appropriate for a president. A presidential wave, whether the president gives it or not, is commanding and confident. And it's well known that candidates who don't look presidential aren't often elected, even if they're more than capable of running the country.
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.
Former Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega says he intends to stand as a candidate in next year's Fifa presidential election.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Year: 2016 Compiled by: Jonathan L. Fischer, Ian Prasad Philbrick, and Daniel Hubbard Of note: The state represented at No. 1 has not given its electoral votes to a Republican presidential candidate since George H.W.
From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026
The pressure is likely to intensify as France approaches the 2027 presidential election, which could offer a route out of the current political impasse—or prolong it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
“Karoline’s first hand experience in the White House and on the presidential campaign trail gives her a distinct understanding of today’s political landscape,” Fox News Media Chief Executive Suzanne Scott said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
But the stairs in the house were steep, and the busy schedule of a presidential household was far more demanding than Mount Vernon.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
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.
