president
n. countablen. the person who has the highest position in a country, a company, or a group. They are usually the leader who makes the most important decisions.
n. the elected head of a republican state or the highest-ranking officer of an organization, such as a corporation or university.
The president signs the new law today.
After the election results were announced, the new president promised to improve the country's schools and hospitals.
The university president addressed the faculty regarding the proposed budget cuts, emphasizing that academic integrity remained the institution's primary concern despite the financial constraints.
From Old French president, from Latin praesidēns (“presiding over; president, leader”) (accusative: praesidentem). The Latin word is the substantivized present active participle of the verb praesideō (“preside over”). The verb is composed from prae (“before”) and sedeō (“sit”). The original meaning of the verb is 'to sit before' in the sense of presiding at a meeting. A secondary meaning of the verb is 'to command, to govern'. So praesidēns means 'the presiding one on a meeting' or 'governor, commander'.
Often capitalized when used as a title before a person's name.