provost

[ proh-vohst, prov-uhst or, especially in military usage, proh-voh ]

/ ˈproʊ voʊst, ˈprɒv əst or, especially in military usage, ˈproʊ voʊ /

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noun

a person appointed to superintend or preside.

an administrative officer in any of various colleges and universities who holds high rank and is concerned with the curriculum, faculty appointments, etc.

Ecclesiastical. the chief dignitary of a cathedral or collegiate church.

the steward or bailiff of a medieval manor or an officer of a medieval administrative district.

the mayor of a municipality in Scotland.

Obsolete. a prison warden.

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Origin of provost

before 900; Middle English; Old English profost<Medieval Latin prōpositus abbot, prior, provost, literally, (one) placed before, Latin: past participle of prōpōnere.See pro-¹, posit

OTHER WORDS FROM provost

pro·vost·ship, noun

Words nearby provost

provocative, provoke, provoked, provoking, provolone, provost, provost court, provost guard, provost marshal, provost sergeant, prow

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use provost in a sentence

Before that, he served in various positions — including professor, chemistry department chair and provost — at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
George Washington U. president to leave in December, sooner than planned|Lauren Lumpkin|September 10, 2021|Washington Post
A previous version of this article misstated the last name of a provost and professor at Florida International University.
Coronavirus-sniffing dogs unleashed at Miami airport to detect virus in employees|Kim Bellware, Adela Suliman|September 9, 2021|Washington Post
Now that we have the basis of such a tool, the international community needs to commit to funding it, so it doesn’t have to beg in the middle of a crisis, says Ezekiel Emanuel, vice provost for global initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania.
COVAX Was a Great Idea, But Is Now 500 Million Doses Short of Its Vaccine Distribution Goals. What Exactly Went Wrong?|Jamie Ducharme|September 9, 2021|Time
The riots at Ole Miss had been followed by the exodus of the provost, several department heads, and distinguished faculty, as well as a dramatic drop in student enrollment from outside the state.
How Robert F. Kennedy Shaped His Brother's Response to Civil Rights|Patricia Sullivan|August 11, 2021|Time

Two days later, six female professors at Northwestern sent a letter to the university provost expressing dismay at the hiring and requesting an “independent, transparent and third-party investigation” into Richardson’s accusations against Polisky.
Northwestern AD resigns after outcry over his promotion despite lawsuit by former cheerleader|Des Bieler|May 13, 2021|Washington Post
The filmmakers are my goddaughter Sara Ossana and her husband Mathew Provost.
Larry McMurtry: May the Books Flourish!|Larry McMurtry|September 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Previously, she was the president of the University of Pennsylvania and provost of Yale University.
2012 Summit: Who's On Stage||March 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As Stanford provost, Rice dismissed, on budgetary grounds, a popular Latina administrator.
Growing Up Condi|Stephen L. Carter|October 11, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Vice Provost for Research Dr. David Korn, who is leading efforts to craft the policy, says it will cover all university faculty.
Harvard vs. Steve Jobs|Emily Brill|July 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The UCL president and provost, Professor Malcolm Grant is “deeply saddened by these events.”
My Classmate, the Plane Bomber|Venetia Thompson|December 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Delgado, the editor, after repeated warnings from the Provost-Marshal, was at length arrested.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
The rector of Saint-Pierre-aux-Boeufs relies upon him; he is the provost of that quarter.
Catherine de' Medici|Honore de Balzac
The provost and his men bade him sit upon a bench, and the man then bound his feet as he had before bound his hands.
Catherine de' Medici|Honore de Balzac
"Send up the provost brigade," was Grant's despatch sent to City Point.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.
Provost General Macy, of Massachusetts, established a guard to prevent depredations and to save the army from demoralization.
The Boys of '61|Charles Carleton Coffin.

British Dictionary definitions for provost

provost

/ (ˈprɒvəst) /

noun

an appointed person who superintends or presides

the head of certain university colleges or schools

(in Scotland) the chairman and civic head of certain district councils or (formerly) of a burgh councilCompare convener (def. 2)

Church of England the senior dignitary of one of the more recent cathedral foundations

RC Church

the head of a cathedral chapter in England and some other countries
(formerly) the member of a monastic community second in authority under the abbot

(in medieval times) an overseer, steward, or bailiff in a manor

obsolete a prison warder

(prəˈvəʊ) British and Canadian military a military policeman

Word Origin for provost

Old English profost, from Medieval Latin prōpositus placed at the head (of), from Latin praepōnere to place first, from prae- before + pōnere to put

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

provost

Origin of provost

OTHER WORDS FROM provost

Words nearby provost

Words related to provost

How to use provost in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for provost

Word Origin for provost