ENGLISH
REFERENCE

chairmen

n. plural-only
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtʃɛɹmɪn// UK //tʃˈeəmɛn// chair·men

n. the people who lead a meeting, a committee, or a large company. You use this word when talking about more than one leader.

n. the plural form of 'chairman'; refers to multiple presiding officers of an assembly, meeting, or board of directors.


SIMPLE

The chairmen of both companies met to discuss the merger.

CONTEXTUAL

After the conference, the chairmen from the various regional committees gathered to sign the final agreement.

COMPLEX

While modern corporate governance often prefers the gender-neutral 'chairs', many historical records still list the influential chairmen who shaped the industry during the twentieth century.

Synonyms
Usage

Takes a plural verb; the gender-neutral alternatives 'chairs' or 'chairpersons' are increasingly common in professional contexts.

Pitfall

The chairmens are here.The chairmen are here.Chairmen is already the plural form of chairman; adding an 's' is a common error.

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