rector
Americannoun
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rectors
plural
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a member of the clergy in charge of a parish in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
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Roman Catholic Church. an ecclesiastic in charge of a college, religious house, or congregation.
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Anglican Church. a member of the clergy who has the charge of a parish with full possession of all its rights, tithes, etc.
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the head of certain universities, colleges, and schools.
noun
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Church of England a clergyman in charge of a parish in which, as its incumbent, he would formerly have been entitled to the whole of the tithes Compare vicar
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RC Church a cleric in charge of a college, religious house, or congregation
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Episcopal Church Scottish Episcopal Church a clergyman in charge of a parish
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the head of certain schools or colleges
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(in Scotland) a high-ranking official in a university: now a public figure elected for three years by the students
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of rector
1350–1400; Middle English rectour < Latin rēctor helmsman, ruler, leader, equivalent to reg ( ere ) to rule + -tor -tor
Explanation
A rector is someone with the authority to lead others in religious worship and services. Rectors conduct mass. This word originally applied to the leader of a government, but it has evolved to mean a different type of leader: a religious official with the authorization to lead church services and conduct various religious rituals and sacraments. This term is used mainly in Christian congregations. For members of the flock, the rector provides leadership and wisdom, helping them live as followers of their faith.
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.
See Examples For:
“Is it irreverent?” wondered José Antonio Carballo, the cathedral’s rector.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
Father Fred Wekesa, the rector of the Saint Augustine Basilica at Annaba where Leo will celebrate mass, said the pope's upcoming visit would give his small flock a "message of encouragement and solidarity".
From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026
Wille is rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in the North Side neighborhood of Ravenswood, known for its historic homes, tree-lined streets, vibrant arts scene and craft breweries.
From Salon ● Apr. 6, 2026
Her father was the rector of two parishes and ran a small boys’ school to supplement the family’s meager income.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 30, 2025
Humphrey Babington was a Fellow of Trinity College in Cambridge, but spent most of his time at Boothby Pagnall, near Grantham, where he was rector.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
In 1431, the ecumenical Council of Basel ordered the deans and rectors of churches to expel "frivolities" and "profane abuses" from holy buildings, but implicitly allowed them to take place in the squares outside.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2024
While rectors at the universities with the biggest problems have accepted the intervention, many academics are skeptical, according to Panagiotis Kaldis, who heads the rotating presidency of a council of the 24 state university rectors.
From New York Times ● Oct. 9, 2022
The rectors of 20 Ecuadorian universities have signed a letter in which they “emphatically reject” the accusations against Guamán and call for “impartial justice” to be done.
From Science Magazine ● Oct. 28, 2021
"We will continue to request the resignation of all administrative staff that were appointed, including the deputy rectors," Gambetti said.
From Reuters ● Jul. 16, 2021
The term is used in this general sense in certain rubrics of the English Book of Common Prayer, in which it is applied equally to rectors and vicars as to perpetual curates.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various
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.
