chancellor

[ chan-suh-ler, -sler, chahn- ]

noun

1. the chief minister of state in certain parliamentary governments, as in Germany; prime minister; premier.
2. the chief administrative officer in certain American universities.
3. a secretary, as to a king or noble or of an embassy.
4. the priest in charge of a Roman Catholic chancery.
5. the title of various important judges and other high officials.
6. (in some states of the U.S.) the judge of a court of equity or chancery.
7. British. the honorary, nonresident, titular head of a university.

chancellor

/ -slə; ˈtʃɑːnsələ /

noun

1. the head of the government in several European countries
2. the president of a university or, in some colleges, the chief administrative officer
3. the honorary head of a university Compare vice chancellor
4. (in some states) the presiding judge of a court of chancery or equity
5. the chief secretary of an embassy
6. Christianity a clergyman acting as the law officer of a bishop
7. archaic.
   the chief secretary of a prince, nobleman, etc

Derived Forms

• ˈchancellorˌship, noun

Other Words From

• under·chancel·lor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chancellor¹

before 1100; Middle English chanceler < Anglo-French < Late Latin cancellārius doorkeeper, literally, man at the barrier ( chancel, -er ² ); replacing Middle English canceler, Old English ≪ Late Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of chancellor¹

C11: from Anglo-French chanceler, from Late Latin cancellārius porter, secretary, from Latin cancellī lattice; see chancel

Example Sentences

"Our chancellor in the last four months has shown more competence that the last four chancellors he had," she said.

From BBC

The prime minister, health secretary and chancellor are due to meet in the next 10 days to discuss the issue.

From BBC

Until now farm land has not been subject to inheritance tax but the chancellor wants to change that.

From BBC

Daniel Diermeier, the chancellor of Vanderbilt University, commissioned a study — after his own school’s decline last year — that argued the rankings were problematic.

From New York Times

In a letter with over 200 signatories, hospitality bosses last week told the chancellor the industry was disproportionately impacted by the "unsustainable" tax hike.

From BBC

Related Words

• administrator
• agent
• bureaucrat
• civil servant
• commissioner
• director
• executive
• leader
• manager
• minister
• officer
• representative
• secretary