chairman

chairman — noun

1. a person who leads a committee, company, or other formal group, often by running

1.nounB1
Definition

a person who leads a committee, company, or other formal group, often by running its meetings and making sure decisions are handled properly

Example

Aiko raised her hand to speak, and the chairman nodded for her to go ahead.

countable noun used with definite article 'the'

The hospital board chairman announced a new children's health fund at the meeting.

Common collocations
  • serve as chairman
  • act as chairman
  • elect someone chairman
  • appoint a chairman
Synonyms
  • chairperson

    gender-neutral alternative; preferred in many modern contexts

  • chair

    shorter, gender-neutral form; common in academic and committee settings

  • presiding officer

    formal term that focuses on the meeting-running role specifically

  • president

    similar role but typically the highest executive in an organization, not just a meeting role

Antonyms
  • member

    a participant rather than the leader of a group

  • attendee

    someone who is present at a meeting but does not run it

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

usually singular

Usage Note

Although the word contains 'man,' chairman is commonly used as the official title for people of any gender who hold this role. Some organizations prefer the gender-neutral alternatives 'chairperson' or 'chair.' Check the organization's own title conventions before choosing which term to use.

Common Mistakes

The chairwoman of the company, Ms. Chen, gave a speech.' (when the official title is 'chairman')
The chairman of the company, Ms. Chen, gave a speech.
Many organizations use 'chairman' as the official title regardless of the holder's gender.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Chairman, chairperson, and chair all refer to the same leadership role in a committee or meeting. Chairman is the traditional title and remains the most common in corporate and political contexts, though it contains 'man' and is now used for any gender. Chairperson is a gender-neutral alternative that became popular from the 1970s onward and is common in academic and non-profit settings. Chair is an even shorter neutral form, often used in phrases like 'committee chair' or 'department chair.' President differs from chairman in that a president is typically the top executive of an entire organization, while a chairman usually leads a specific board or committee within it. For example, 'The committee chair called the meeting to order' is neutral and informal, while 'The board chairman presented the annual report to shareholders' is the standard corporate phrase. 'The company's president announced a new strategy' refers to the chief executive, a different role from the chairman who oversees the board.

chairperson ↗chair ↗president ↗presiding officer

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • serve as chairman
  • act as chairman
  • elect someone chairman
  • appoint someone chairman
  • step down as chairman

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchOld EnglishEnglish

Chairman is formed from 'chair' (from Old French chaire, meaning a seat of authority) and 'man' (from Old English mann, meaning a person). The word first appeared in the 1600s, referring to the person who sat in a special chair at the head of a meeting. Although originally used only for men, since the mid-1900s it has been used as a title for people of any gender who hold the role.