chairman

[ chair-muhn ]

noun

, plural chair·men.

1. the presiding officer of a meeting, committee, board, etc.
2. the administrative head of a department in a high school, college, or university.
3. someone employed to carry or wheel a person in a chair.

verb (used with object)

, chair·maned or chair·manned, chair·man·ing or chair·man·ning.

1. to act as or be chairman of (a meeting, committee, etc.).

chairman

/ ˈtʃɛəmən /

noun

1. Also calledchairpersonfemchairwoman a person who presides over a company's board of directors, a committee, a debate, an administrative department, etc
2. history someone who carries a sedan chair

Usage

Chairman can seem inappropriate when applied to a woman, while chairwoman can be offensive. Chair and chairperson can be applied to either a man or a woman; chair is generally preferred to chairperson

Gender Note

Is it chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson? See chairperson.

Derived Forms

• ˈchairmanˌship, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chairman¹

First recorded in 1645–55; chair + -man

Example Sentences

The new company will have the chairman of NBCUniversal's media group, Mark Lazarus, as its chief executive.

From BBC

After the sale, Mr. Frommer remained chairman and president of Arthur Frommer International Inc., which included one of the largest wholesale tour operations in the country and eventually the online consumer travel site frommers.com.

From New York Times

If he becomes chairman, Carr has indicated he will punish news organizations that negatively cover Trump.

From Salon

Following media coverage of the issue former FA chairman Lord Triesman raised the issue at the House of Lords on Wednesday.

From BBC

Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• administrator
• chairperson
• chairwoman
• director
• leader
• spokesman