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Meaning & use

president

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈprezɪdənt/
US/ˈprɛzɪdənt/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    The person chosen as the head of a republic, who often leads the government as well.

    Grammar: Capitalized before a name: President Lincoln. Lowercase otherwise: the president spoke.

    Patterns

    • the president of a country
    • run for president

    The president addressed the nation on Tuesday night.

    She became the first woman to be elected president of her country.

    The president signed the bill into law.

  2. nouncountable

    The person with the highest rank in a company, organization or club.

    Grammar: In US business, president is a senior executive title; in clubs, the main officer.

    Patterns

    • the president of a company
    • president of the society

    She was promoted to president of the software division.

    The president of the chess club organizes every weekly match.

    Jack is president of the student council this year.

  3. nouncountableAmerican

    The head of a university or college in the United States.

    Grammar: In the UK, similar heads are called vice-chancellors.

    Patterns

    • president of a university

    The university president announced a new scholarship.

    Students met the college president at the orientation event.

    The board is searching for a new president.

Word forms

pluralpresidents

Common combinations

elect a president
Voters will elect a president in November.
run for president
He decided to run for president after serving as governor.
vice president
The vice president attended the ceremony.
former president
The former president wrote a memoir.
company president
The company president announced the merger.
president-elect
The president-elect met with advisers before the inauguration.

Synonyms and how they differ

chairperson
A chairperson leads meetings of a committee or board, whereas a president often holds the top role in the organization.
head of state
Head of state is the formal role, which may be filled by a president, a monarch, or another figure.
chief executive
Chief executive names the top manager of a business, while president can be ceremonial or elected.
leader
Leader is a general word for anyone in charge, but president is a specific title.

Word family

presidency noun
the office or time in office of a president
presidential adjective
relating to a president
preside verb
to be in charge of a meeting
vice president noun
the officer ranking just below a president

Commonly confused: president or precedent? president or resident?

president vs precedent

A precedent is an earlier example used as a guide. It is not a person and has a different spelling.

president vs resident

A resident is a person who lives in a place. President is a leader.

Practice

Abraham Lincoln was the sixteenth ______ of the United States.

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