chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər 

1

a

: the secretary of a nobleman, prince, or king

b

: the lord chancellor of Great Britain

c

British : the chief secretary of an embassy

d

: a Roman Catholic priest heading the office in which diocesan business is transacted and recorded

2

a

: the titular head of a British university

b(1)

: a university president

(2)

: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education

3

a

: a lay legal officer or adviser of an Anglican diocese

b

: a judge in a court of chancery or equity in various states of the U.S.

4

: the chief minister of state in some European countries

chancellorship

ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of chancellor in a Sentence

the new chancellor of the university

Recent Examples on the Web

Rumours features Blanchett as a fictional German chancellor who attends a G7 meeting of world leaders that spirals into chaos. —Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2024

Arguments over how much of a college education should be geared toward training for specific jobs have existed as long as universities have been around, said Donald Hossler, a former vice chancellor of student enrollment services at Indiana University Bloomington. —Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2024

Whatever policies have been or will be adopted, chancellors of individual UC campuses and presidents of each Cal State would have to enforce them. —Thomas Elias, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024

The district recently earned high ratings and praise for its fiscal stability from two prominent bond-rating companies, according to Iris Ingram, vice chancellor of business services for RSCCD. —Nicole Gregory, Orange County Register, 6 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chanceler, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, secretary, from cancellus

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Phrases Containing chancellor

• chancellor of the exchequer
• lord chancellor
• vice chancellor

Kids Definition

chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər 

1

: the chief minister of state in some European countries

2

: the head of a university

Legal Definition

chancellor

noun

chan·​cel·​lor ˈchan-sə-lər 

1

: the head of a chancery: as

a

: the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain

b

: a judge in a court of equity in various states

2

a

: a university president

b

: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education

3

: the chief minister of state in some European countries (as Germany)

Etymology

Old French chancelier royal secretary, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, clerk, from Latin cancellus latticework barrier