Definition

1. Noun:

   • The presiding officer of a meeting, committee, or organization: A "chairman" is the person who leads or is in charge of a formal gathering, a board, or an organized body, responsible for conducting its proceedings.
   • (Archaic) A person who carries a sedan chair; a sedan-chair carrier: This is an old, historical meaning no longer in common use.

2. Verb:

   • To act as the chairman of; to preside over: To perform the duties of a chairman, such as leading a meeting, committee, or department.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The chairman called the meeting to order.
  • She was elected chairman of the board.
• Verb:
  • He will chairman the finance committee this year.
  • She chaired the conference with great skill.

Advanced Usage

• "To address the chairman": To speak formally to the person presiding over a meeting.
  • All questions must be addressed to the chairman.
• "Chairman of the board": A common title for the head of a company's board of directors.
  • The chairman of the board announced the new strategic direction.

Variants and Related Words

• Chairperson (n): A gender-neutral term for a chairman or chairwoman.
• Chairwoman (n): A woman who presides over a meeting or organization.
• Chair (n/v): A common, shorter form for chairman/chairperson/chairwoman, used as both a noun and verb (e.g., / ).
• Chairmanship (n): The position or period of office of a chairman.
  • During his chairmanship, the company expanded rapidly.

Synonyms

• Presiding officer
• Moderator (especially for debates or discussions)
• President (often used interchangeably in some organizations)
• Head (a more general term)

Related Phrases

• "Take the chair": To begin acting as the chairman.
  • The vice-president will take the chair in the chairman's absence.
• "Leave the chair": To conclude one's duty as chairman for a session.
  • The meeting concluded and the chairman left the chair.

Noun

1. the officer who presides at the meetings of an organization
   • address your remarks to the chairperson

Verb

1. act or preside as chair, as of an academic department in a university
   • She chaired the department for many years