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Meaning & use

dean

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/diːn/
US/diːn/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A senior official at a university or college who leads a faculty, school or area of student affairs.

    Grammar: Often a title before a name: Dean Moreno.

    Patterns

    • the dean of something
    • dean of students

    The dean of the law school welcomed the new students.

    She met with the dean to discuss her scholarship.

    Dean Harris signed the new policy last week.

  2. nouncountablereligion

    A senior clergyman who is in charge of a cathedral or a group of churches.

    Grammar: Used in Christian church settings, especially the Church of England.

    Patterns

    • the dean of somewhere

    The dean of the cathedral led the memorial service.

    The dean announced repairs to the stained glass windows.

  3. nounsingularformal

    The longest-serving or most respected member of a group, such as a profession or diplomatic corps.

    Grammar: Used with of: dean of the Senate.

    Patterns

    • the dean of something

    He is the dean of American sports commentators.

    She became the dean of the diplomatic corps after thirty years of service.

Word forms

pluraldeans

Common combinations

dean of students
The dean of students handles discipline and welfare.
dean's list
She made the dean's list for the third semester.
associate dean
The associate dean chaired the meeting.
dean of the faculty
The dean of the faculty praised the research.
office of the dean
The form must be sent to the office of the dean.

Synonyms and how they differ

principal
Principal is the head of a school, usually below university level, while dean leads a section of a university.
provost
Provost is a more senior university officer who often oversees academic affairs across deans.
chancellor
Chancellor typically heads a whole university or a state system, a higher role than dean.
head
Head is a general term used for the leader of a department, and has no specific title force.

Word family

deanery noun
the office or district of a dean
deanship noun
the position or term of a dean
subdean noun
an assistant to a dean
decanal adjective
relating to a dean

Commonly confused: dean or Dean?

dean vs Dean

Dean with a capital letter is also a common first name, so context shows whether it names a person or the title.

Practice

The ___ of the medical school announced new admission rules.

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