DictionaryAI

chairman

SayCHAIR-muhn/ˈtʃɛɹ.mən/UK/ˈtʃɛːmən/

Pluralchairmen

Verbchairmans, chairmaning, chairmaned

4 meanings of chairman

Practice

  1. 1
    board leadernouncountable
    The person in charge of a meeting, a committee, or the board of a company or group.

    Like the captain of a team, who leads the group and makes the final calls.

    The chairman of the company announced record profits this year.

    Each committee chooses a chairman to run its meetings.

    UsageOften chairman of a company. Many groups now say chair or chairperson instead.

    Similarhead

    Note
  2. 2
    be in chargeverbtransitive
    To act as the leader who runs a meeting or group.

    UsageMost people say chair instead: chair a meeting.

    Similarchair, lead

    Note
  3. 3
    nounUScountableus
    A professor who is in charge of a department at a college or university and runs its staff and work.

    She became chairman of the math department last fall.

    Ask the department chairman if you can still join the class this late.

    Similarchair, head, chairperson

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    noun
    A worker whose job was to carry people in a covered seat lifted on poles.
    Mr. Winkle, catching sight of a lady's face at the window of the sedan, turned hastily round, plied the knocker with all his might and main, and called frantically upon the chairman to take the chair away again.
    1836, Charles Dickens, The Pickwick PapersHere, chairman means a worker who carried people in a covered seat on poles.

Practice

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Origin

This word comes from 'chair' plus '-man'.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact