rector

[ rek-ter ]

noun

1. a member of the clergy in charge of a parish in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
2. Roman Catholic Church. an ecclesiastic in charge of a college, religious house, or congregation.
3. Anglican Church. a member of the clergy who has the charge of a parish with full possession of all its rights, tithes, etc.
4. the head of certain universities, colleges, and schools.

rector

/ ˈrɛktə; rɛkˈtɔːrɪəl /

noun

1. See vicar
   Church of England a clergyman in charge of a parish in which, as its incumbent, he would formerly have been entitled to the whole of the tithes Compare vicar
2. RC Church a cleric in charge of a college, religious house, or congregation
3. Episcopal Church Scottish Episcopal Church a clergyman in charge of a parish
4. the head of certain schools or colleges
5. (in Scotland) a high-ranking official in a university: now a public figure elected for three years by the students

Derived Forms

• ˈrectorate, noun
• ˈrectorship, noun
• rectorial, adjective

Other Words From

• rec·to·ri·al [rek-, tawr, -ee-, uh, l, -, tohr, -], adjective
• sub·rector noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rector¹

1350–1400; Middle English rectour < Latin rēctor helmsman, ruler, leader, equivalent to reg ( ere ) to rule + -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of rector¹

C14: from Latin: director, ruler, from regere to rule

Example Sentences

When students protested Erdogan’s choice of a political loyalist as rector at a major university, he attacked them as terrorists, and many were arrested.

From Time

The protests had started almost a month before, when Erdogan assigned a new rector to Istanbul’s prestigious Bogazici University by presidential decree.

From Time

Monsignor Walter Rossi, the church rector, said regulations imposed because of the pandemic made it possible to allow less than 5 percent of the 14,000 people who would typically attend Masses.

From Washington Post

Rector was attending a Sunday night game between the Yankees and Red Sox when he dozed off.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, the suit tries to somehow find MLB liable for a still picture of Rector posted on a website called NotSportcenter.

From The Daily Beast

Collins-Rector is not currently named as a defendant in the suit.

From The Daily Beast

It emerged Thursday night that Egan had apparently sued Collins-Rector and Shackley in 2000, but had not named Singer in the suit.

From The Daily Beast

Critics of the Heritage study raise four principal objections to the work of Robert Rector and Jason Richwine.

From The Daily Beast

He was rector of the university of Ilfeldt 40 years, and published several learned works.

From Project Gutenberg

They had the power to select a rector as well as to carry on regular parish duties.

From Project Gutenberg

Toiling across Lord Hartledon's path was the labourer to whom the Rector had been speaking.

From Project Gutenberg

The Rector laid his hand on the slender fingers, hot with fever, whiter than they ought to be, betraying life's inward care.

From Project Gutenberg

Returning to his boarding place, the rector read his father's letter a second time, and then answered it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clergyman
• cleric
• headmaster
• pastor
• priest