ENGLISH
REFERENCE

presidency

n.
US //ˈpɹɛzədənsi// UK //pɹˈɛzɪdənsi// pres·i·den·cy
  1. 1 the office or role (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the position or job of being a president.

    the office or official position of a president.

    Example

    She has wanted to reach the presidency since she first entered politics.

    Example

    The candidate argued that the presidency requires a unique combination of diplomatic tact and executive decisiveness.
  2. 2 term of office (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the period of time during which someone is president.

    the duration or tenure of a president's term in office.

    Example

    The country saw many economic changes during his presidency.

    Example

    Historians often evaluate a presidency based on the long-term legislative impact rather than immediate popularity polls.
  3. 3 the administration (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    the group of people and offices that work for a president.

    the executive branch or administrative body under the direct control of a president.

    Example

    The presidency announced a new plan to help small businesses.

    Example

    The presidency issued a formal statement clarifying that the new environmental regulations would take effect immediately.
  4. 4 historical province (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Archaic

    one of the three main areas of India when it was ruled by Britain.

    an administrative division or province in British India, such as the Bengal Presidency.

    Example

    He served as an official in the Bombay Presidency during the nineteenth century.

    Example

    The administrative structure of the Madras Presidency differed significantly from the governance models used in the northern territories.
Origin

From Medieval Latin praesidentia. By surface analysis, president + -cy.

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

Last updated June 19, 2026