# presidential

/ˌpɹɛzəˈdɛnʃəɫ/ (US) · /pɹˌɛzɪdˈɛnʃəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/presidential
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. related to a president

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to a president or the office of a presidency.

For teachers: pertaining to the office, powers, or person of a president.

- The country is preparing for the upcoming presidential election in November.
- The candidate's platform focused heavily on reforming presidential powers to ensure greater legislative oversight.

### 3. presiding or watching over

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

having the role of watching over or protecting something.

For teachers: occupying a position of presiding authority or protective oversight.

- In old stories, a presidential spirit was said to guard the sacred forest.
- The poet personified the stars as presidential watchers over the sleeping city.

Usage: This sense is rarely found in modern prose and is almost exclusively restricted to historical or highly formal literary contexts.

## Examples

- The candidate gave a very presidential speech tonight.
- The prime minister's supporters argued that his calm response to the crisis was truly presidential.
- Political commentators often debate whether a candidate possesses a presidential bearing, focusing on their ability to project authority and composure during high-stakes televised debates.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.