n.
Pronunciation: ' pre-z ə -d ə nt, ' prez-d ə nt, ' pre-z ə - ˌ dent in rapid speech ' pre-z ə nt
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesident-, praesidens, from present participle of praesid ē re
Date: 14th century
1 : an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly
2 : an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit
3 : the chief officer of an organization (as a corporation or institution) usually entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies
4 : the presiding officer of a governmental body
5 a : an elected official serving as both chief of state and chief political executive in a republic having a presidential government b : an elected official having the position of chief of state but usually only minimal political powers in a republic having a parliamentary government
– pres · i · den · tial \ ˌ pre-z ə - ' den(t)-sh ə l, ˌ prez- ' den(t)- \ adjective
– pres · i · den · tial · ly \ -sh( ə -)l ē \ adverb
– pres · i · dent · ship \ ' pre-z ə -d ə nt- ˌ ship, ' prez-d ə nt-, ' pre-z ə - ˌ dent- \ noun