English Reference
noun

CEO

n.
US /ˈsiˌiˈoʊ/ ceo

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    Stands for Chief Executive Officer. The person who has the most power and the highest position in a company.

    Abbreviation for Chief Executive Officer. The highest-ranking corporate officer responsible for making major decisions and managing overall operations.

    Simple

    The CEO announced that the company would hire fifty new employees this year.

    In context

    After the merger, the CEO faced intense pressure from the board to streamline operations and increase shareholder value within the first fiscal quarter.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced InformalHumorousSlang

    A person who is the best at a specific activity or behavior, often used as a joke.

    A humorous or hyperbolic designation for an individual who exemplifies a specific trait or excels at a particular activity.

    Simple

    She is the CEO of being late to every single meeting.

    In context

    In internet culture, calling someone the 'CEO of sarcasm' suggests they have mastered the art of dry humor to an unmatched degree.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate British EnglishTechnical Law

    Stands for Civil Enforcement Officer. In the UK, this is a person who checks that cars are parked legally.

    Abbreviation for Civil Enforcement Officer. A person employed by a local authority to enforce traffic and parking regulations.

    Simple

    The CEO gave me a ticket because I parked on a double yellow line.

    In context

    The local council deployed additional CEOs to the high street to manage the congestion caused by the holiday shopping season.

    traffic warden
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    Stands for Current Engine Option. A term used in aviation to describe older engine types compared to newer, more efficient ones.

    Acronym for Current Engine Option. A retronym used in the aviation industry to distinguish older engine models from the 'New Engine Option' (NEO) variants.

    Simple

    The airline still operates several A320 CEO aircraft on its shorter domestic routes.

    In context

    The transition from CEO to NEO technology has allowed carriers to significantly reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions across their narrow-body fleets.

    NEO
This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated