# proctor

/ˈpɹɑktɝ/ (US) · /pɹˈɒktɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/proctor
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. exam supervisor

noun · CEFR C1 · American English

a person who watches students during an exam to prevent cheating.

For teachers: an individual appointed to supervise students during an examination to ensure academic integrity.

- The proctor walked quietly between the desks while the students finished their essays.
- The university requires at least one proctor for every thirty students to maintain strict silence and prevent any unauthorized communication during the final.

Usage: In British English, the term 'invigilator' is much more common for this role.

Teaching tip: While 'proctor' is the standard term in the US and Canada, teachers should note that 'invigilator' is the preferred term in the UK and Australia.

### 2. university official

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Formal

a high-ranking official at some older universities who handles discipline.

For teachers: a senior administrative officer at certain traditional universities, such as Oxford or Cambridge, responsible for student discipline and ceremonial duties.

- The university proctor was responsible for investigating the students' behavior after the protest.
- The junior proctor led the academic procession, wearing the traditional robes that signified his authority over student conduct within the college grounds.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly specific to a few elite institutions and is rarely encountered in general conversation.

### 3. to supervise an exam

verb · CEFR C1 · American English

to watch students while they take a test to make sure they follow the rules.

For teachers: to act as a supervisor during an examination.

- Graduate students are often asked to proctor undergraduate exams during finals week.
- The department head requested that senior faculty members proctor the entrance exams to ensure that all testing protocols were strictly followed.

Usage: Often used as a transitive verb taking the exam or the students as an object.

## Examples

- The proctor told us to put our pens down.
- If you have a question about the instructions, please raise your hand and wait for the proctor to come to your desk.
- To maintain a secure testing environment, the university requires one proctor for every thirty students, ensuring that all sightlines are covered and any suspicious behavior is immediately documented.

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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.