presidency

presidency — noun

1. the position, duties, and period of service of a person who leads a country, a l

1.nounB2
Definition

the position, duties, and period of service of a person who leads a country, a large organisation, or a group

Example

Ryan wrote his final paper on Nelson Mandela's presidency in South Africa.

possessive name + presidency + of [place]

During Talia's presidency, the charity opened new offices in four countries.

Common collocations
  • hold the presidency
  • win the presidency
  • run for the presidency
  • assume the presidency
  • during (someone's) presidency
  • presidency of (something)
Synonyms
  • administration

    focuses on the group of people who govern with the leader, not the leader's role alone

  • term

    emphasises the fixed period of time in office rather than the duties

  • leadership

    broader — applies to any type of leader, not just a president

Usage Note

Often preceded by a possessive adjective (his, her, its) or a name in possessive form when referring to a specific person's term in office.

Common Mistakes

During his president, the economy grew.
During his presidency, the economy grew.
'presidency' names the period in office; 'president' names the person.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Presidency' refers specifically to the role and period of a president, the highest leader of a country or organisation. 'Administration' is broader — it includes the president and all the officials who work with them (e.g. 'the Obama administration'). 'Term' focuses narrowly on the length of time, not the duties (e.g. 'a four-year term'). 'Leadership' is the most general and can apply to any setting, from a classroom to a company, without implying a formal title. For example: 'Her presidency began in 2020' highlights both the job and the time; 'Her administration passed several laws' highlights the team; 'Her term ended in 2024' highlights the calendar period.

presidency ↗administration ↗termleadership ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • run for the presidency
  • win the presidency
  • hold the presidency
  • assume the presidency
  • during (someone's) presidency

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'praesidentia', meaning 'the office of a ruler or governor', formed from 'praesidere' (to sit before, to preside). Entered English through Medieval French 'présidence' in the 16th century, originally referring to the office of a military governor. The modern political meaning, tied to the leader of a republic, became common in the 18th century after the American and French revolutions.