Synonyms

presidential

American

[prez-i-den-shuhl] / ˌprɛz ɪˈdɛn ʃəl /

adjective

of or relating to a president or presidency.
of the nature of a president.

Other Word Forms

nonpresidential adjective
postpresidential adjective
prepresidential adjective
presidentially adverb
unpresidential adjective
unpresidentially adverb

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.

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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.

He previously covered the White House and presidential elections for RealClearPolitics, a role he began in 2019.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

She announced in July that she would not run for California governor — leaving the door open for a presidential run or something else — then published a book in September rehashing her campaign.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

According to a French presidential source, during their conversation Macron invited Leo to France, a visit that could possibly take place in September.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Sunday's presidential election comes about four months after outgoing President Patrice Talon survived a coup attempt, when Nigeria - the regional superpower - sent warplanes to bombard mutinous soldiers who had attempted to overthrow him.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Mr. Mwila announced, “Today we shall continue our studies on the upcoming presidential election by forming discussion groups.”

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023