Speaker of the House

Cultural

The presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. The Speaker, a member of the House, is elected by a majority party caucus. In addition to being chief spokesman for the majority party, the Speaker runs the proceedings of House debate and voting, appoints committee members, refers bills to committees for research and development, and has an influential voice in all stages of a bill's consideration. One of the most visible and influential officials of the federal government, the Speaker is second in line, after the vice president, in succession to the presidency.

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.

Ex-ballet dancer Baroness Deborah Bull and former Conservative minister Lord Michael Forsyth of Drumlean will compete to be the next Speaker of the House of Lords.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

“It’s a good thing you’re a natural, Mr. President,” said the Speaker of the House.

From Slate • Dec. 2, 2025

His predecessor in that role was convicted in a high-profile bribery case involving the Illinois Speaker of the House.

From Barron's • Oct. 17, 2025

Passing the 8-hour mark-and-thirty-two minute mark, Jeffries set a record for longest speech in House history, breaking the previous record set by former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy in 2021.

From Salon • Jul. 3, 2025

“He’s one of the chief law officers of the Crown. He’s the Speaker of the House of Lords.”

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

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