chancellor

/ˈtʃæns(ə)lər/

/ˈtʃɑnsɛlə/

Other forms: chancellors

Use the noun chancellor to describe the president of your college, or the head of the German government.

The word chancellor is often capitalized, depending on whom it's being used to describe. Many governments use the term to describe people with varying amounts of power, from the head of state to judges and financial officials. The head of a university is frequently called a chancellor too. The Latin root is cancellarius, an usher or guard in a court of law.

Definitions of chancellor

1. noun

   the person who is head of state (in several countries)
   synonyms: premier, prime minister

   types:

   taoiseach

   the prime minister of the Irish Republic

   type of:

   chief of state, head of state

   the chief public representative of a country who may also be the head of government
2. noun

   the honorary or titular head of a university
   type of:

   head, head teacher, principal, school principal

   the educator who has executive authority for a school