Chairman

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈtʃɛːmÉ™n/

Origin

From chair + -man

Full definition of chairman

Noun

1. A person (implied male) presiding over a meeting.
2. The head of a corporate or governmental board of directors, a committee, or other formal entity.
3. (historical) Someone whose job is to carry people in a portable chair, sedan chair, or similar conveyance.
• 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 618:Mr Western entered; but not before a small wrangling bout had passed between him and his chairmen; for the fellows, who had taken up their burden at the Hercules Pillars, had conceived no hopes of having any future good customer in the squire ...

Usage notes

Historically meant a man, now often used to refer to chairwomen as well.

Antonyms

• chairwoman

Hypernyms

• chair, chairperson
• presiding officer, presider

Anagrams

• Charmian