Word
trustee
US/ˌtɹəsˈti/
UK/tɹˈʌstiː/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a person who is legally chosen to look after money or property for another person or a group.
n. an individual or entity appointed to hold and manage assets for the benefit of a third party, known as a beneficiary.
Examples
“The university board of trustees met to discuss the new budget.”
“After her father passed away, a professional trustee was appointed to manage the inheritance until she turned twenty-five.”
“The legal dispute centered on whether the trustee had breached their fiduciary duty by investing the charity's endowment in high-risk speculative ventures without proper oversight.”
Examples
simple
“The university board of trustees met to discuss the new budget.”
contextual
“After her father passed away, a professional trustee was appointed to manage the inheritance until she turned twenty-five.”
complex
“The legal dispute centered on whether the trustee had breached their fiduciary duty by investing the charity's endowment in high-risk speculative ventures without proper oversight.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “trustee” in context.
Verb
01. act as a trustee
“She was honored when her mentor asked her to act as a trustee for the charitable foundation.”
verb + prep + noun
02. appoint a trustee
“The court decided to appoint a trustee to manage the estate until the children reached adulthood.”
verb + noun
03. remove a trustee
“The beneficiaries filed a petition to remove a trustee who was accused of negligence.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. corporate trustee
“Many large organizations prefer to hire a corporate trustee rather than an individual for better security.”
adj + noun
05. sole trustee
“As the sole trustee, he had the final say in how the investment funds were distributed.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. board of trustees
“The board of trustees met yesterday to discuss the university's new budget proposal.”
noun + of + noun
07. duties of a trustee
“Understanding the legal duties of a trustee is essential before accepting the position.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in his capacity as trustee
“He signed the contract in his capacity as trustee for the family trust.”
prep + noun + prep + noun
Usage
The noun is countable and often refers to a member of a board.
Real-World Examples
“Joyce Beatty, a Democratic representative from Ohio, asked a federal judge to stop the Kennedy Center trustees from putting President Trump's name up in three places at the arts complex.” “The researchers employed a trust game involving two roles: that of an investor and that of a trustee.” Etymology
From trust + -ee.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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- Formal, Technical
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