chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər How to pronounce chancellor (audio)
1
a
: the secretary of a nobleman, prince, or king
b
: the lord chancellor of Great Britain
c
British : the chief secretary of an embassy
d
: a Roman Catholic priest heading the office in which diocesan business is transacted and recorded
2
a
: the titular head of a British university
b(1)
: a university president
(2)
: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education
3
a
: a lay legal officer or adviser of an Anglican diocese
b
: a judge in a court of chancery or equity in various states of the U.S.
4
: the chief minister of state in some European countries
chancellorship noun

Examples of chancellor in a Sentence

the new chancellor of the university
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Loading your audio article Rich Lyons is Cal’s fifth chancellor in the past two decades but nothing like his predecessors. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025 Chancellor responds Brian Cole, installed as School of the Arts chancellor just last Friday, responded to the allegations Monday in an email. Sara Coello, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2025 After his tenure as chancellor ended in 2005, Ritchie became chairman and CEO of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2025 While teachers are still being trained in the new methods, experts have advised the local school system to stay the course as the city’s school chancellor, Melissa Aviles-Ramos, has made some tweaks to the requirement. Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for chancellor 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chanceler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, secretary, from cancellus

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of chancellor was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near chancellor

Cite this Entry

“Chancellor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chancellor. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

chancellor

noun
chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər How to pronounce chancellor (audio)
1
: the chief minister of state in some European countries
2
: the head of a university

Legal Definition

chancellor

noun
chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan-sə-lər How to pronounce chancellor (audio)
1
: the head of a chancery: as
a
: the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain
b
: a judge in a court of equity in various states
2
a
: a university president
b
: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education
3
: the chief minister of state in some European countries (as Germany)
Etymology

Old French chancelier royal secretary, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, clerk, from Latin cancellus latticework barrier

More from Merriam-Webster on chancellor

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