proctor

American  

[prok-ter] / ˈprɒk tər /

noun

1. a person appointed to keep watch over students at examinations.

2. an official charged with various duties, especially with the maintenance of good order.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. to supervise or monitor.

proctor British  

/ prɒkˈtɔːrɪəl, ˈprɒktə /

noun

1. a member of the teaching staff of any of certain universities having the duties of enforcing discipline

2. (in a college or university) a supervisor or monitor who invigilates examinations, enforces discipline, etc

3. (formerly) an agent, esp one engaged to conduct another's case in a court

4. (formerly) an agent employed to collect tithes

5. Church of England one of the elected representatives of the clergy in Convocation and the General Synod

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verb

1. (tr) to invigilate (an examination)

Other Word Forms

• proctorial adjective
• proctorially adverb
• proctorship noun
• subproctor noun
• subproctorial adjective
• subproctorship noun

Etymology

Origin of proctor

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; contracted variant of procurator

Example Sentences

She applied and soon landed an interview, conducted by an unseen AI proctor with a male-sounding voice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

An heir to the Hot Pockets fortune also admitted to paying Singer $100,000 to have a proctor correct her two daughters’ ACT exam answers.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 4, 2023

The proctor administering an exam in his pre-calc class this spring leaned in and whispered, “What are you doing here?” as Beyer handed in his test.

From Washington Post • Dec. 28, 2022

These are the workers who conduct study sessions, offer crunch-time tutoring, read term papers, and proctor and grade exams.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2022

Her proctor had more information about the program, he told Cora, and was available to talk about any concern.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead