provost

noun

pro·​vost ˈprō-ˌvōst 

ˈprä-vəst,

ˈprō-vəst,

 especially before another noun  ˌprō-(ˌ)vō

1

: the chief dignitary of a collegiate or cathedral chapter

2

: the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh

3

: the keeper of a prison

4

: a high-ranking university administrative officer

Examples of provost in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Holden Thorp, the editor in chief of Science and a former university chancellor and provost, told me that many schools could weather these disruptions without issue: A university with a big hospital, for example, might use clinical revenue to offset uncompensated research costs. —Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2025

Between the lines: Now other large public university admissions are approaching UT about replicating its singular approach to admissions, Miguel Wasielewski, UT's interim senior vice provost for strategic enrollment management, tells Axios. —Asher Price, Axios, 18 Nov. 2024

The charge against Matt Queen, who currently pastors a North Carolina church and previously served as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southwestern, accuses him falsifying records and lying about evidence tampering. —Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2024

Sally Parish, a vice provost and director of schools at the University of Memphis, came calling at just the right time. —Kelli Bender, People.com, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English profost & Anglo-French provost, from Medieval Latin propositus, alteration of praepositus, from Latin, one in charge, director, from past participle of praeponere to place at the head — more at preposition

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing provost

• provost court
• provost guard
• provost marshal

Kids Definition

provost

noun

pro·​vost ˈprō-ˌvōst 

ˈpräv-əst,

 before "marshal" often  ˌprō-vō

: a high managing officer (as in a university)