boards of directors

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   The groups of people elected to oversee a company and make its major decisions.

   Grammar: Always plural in form; the singular is board of directors. Use a plural verb: the boards of directors are meeting.

   Patterns

   • boards of directors of something
   • join a board of directors
   • the boards of directors of several companies

   The two companies have separate boards of directors but share the same CEO.

   Boards of directors are responsible for hiring and firing top managers.

   Several boards of directors in the tech industry have recently added more women.

2. 2nounplural

   The regular meetings held by such groups.

   Grammar: Refers to the meetings themselves, not the people. Often used with 'at' or 'during': at the boards of directors.

   Patterns

   • at the boards of directors
   • during boards of directors

   Important decisions are often made at the boards of directors.

   She presented her report during one of the boards of directors.

Common combinations

board of directors

The board of directors approved the new budget.

chairman of the board

She was elected chairman of the board last year.

serve on a board

He serves on the boards of directors of three charities.

board meeting

The board meeting lasted for four hours.

board member

Each board member has one vote.

Synonyms and how they differ

board

Short form, used when the context is clear; boards of directors is more formal and explicit.

directors

Informal shorthand for the people on the board; less precise than boards of directors.

Word family

board noun

The group that manages a company; also a flat piece of wood.

director noun

A member of a board of directors.

directorship noun

The position or period of being a director.

Commonly confused: boards of directors or board of trustees?

Practice

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