I. -nt noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin praesident-, praesidens president, ruler, from praesident-, praesidens, present participle of praesidēre to guard, preside over
1. : an official chosen to preside over a meeting or assembly
president of a ball
president of a bullfight
president of the teachers' conference
2. : an appointed governor of a subordinate political unit (as a province, colony, or city)
3. : the chief officer of a corporation, company, institution, society, or similar organization usually entrusted with the direction and administration of its policies
colleges and universities are usually headed by a president — Kenneth Holland
chosen president of the Turkish Historical Society — Current Biography
president of the nation's largest steel company
4.
a. : the presiding officer of a governmental body (as an advisory council, administrative board, or legislative assembly)
the constitution … makes the vice-president of the United States president of the senate — F.A.Ogg & P.O.Ray
president of the U.N. general assembly
— compare lord president of the council
b. : the presiding judge or justice of a court of law
president of the Court of Session in Scotland
president of the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division of the Supreme Court of Judicature
joint presidents of the shire court — F.M.Stenton
c. : the elected governor usually serving as head of an executive council in several of the original 13 states of the United States during their existence as British colonies and also during the late 18th century after the Revolution
president of Pennsylvania
in 1608 … made president of Virginia — British Book News
5. obsolete : a presiding deity, patron, or genius : guardian
great president of fire — George Chapman
6.
a. : an elected official serving as both chief of state and chief political executive in a republic having a presidential government
the executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States — U.S. Constitution
b. : an elected official having the position of chief of state but usually only minimal political powers in a republic having a parliamentary government
Israel's president … is not head of the executive and his actual powers are very limited — Misha Louvish
the president of France under the Third Republic resembled a constitutional monarch
7. : a church leader of the Mormon Church who with two counselors forms the first presidency or the presidency of a stake or smaller unit
8. Britain : the captain of a racing crew
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin praesident-, praesidens, present participle of praesidēre
archaic : occupying the first rank or chief place : presiding
residence of the president priest of the province — Z.M.Pike