English Reference
Noun

headmaster

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈhɛdˈmæstɝ/ UK /hɛdmˈɑːstɐ/ head·mas·ter UK spelling headmasters

n.the person in charge of a school, especially a private school. This title is usually used for a man.

n.the male principal or senior administrative leader of a school, particularly within the British or private education systems.


SIMPLE

The headmaster gave a speech at the morning assembly.

CONTEXTUAL

Parents requested a meeting with the headmaster to discuss the new school uniform policy.

COMPLEX

The headmaster maintained a strict but fair reputation, ensuring that both the academic standards and the moral character of the students remained high throughout his long tenure.

Usage

Commonly used in British English; the female equivalent is 'headmistress', though 'headteacher' is now a more common gender-neutral alternative.


From head + master.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated