Definition

Noun: 1. The presiding officer of a meeting, committee, board, or organization: The person who is formally appointed or elected to lead and conduct the proceedings of a group, ensuring order, facilitating discussion, and often having the authority to make rulings on procedure. 2. A person in a position of authority who leads a collective body: The individual who holds the highest office in an organized group, responsible for its administration and often representing it externally.

Usage

The word "chairperson" is a gender-neutral term used to refer to the leader of a meeting or an organization. It is often used in formal, professional, and official contexts. * It is typically used with the definite article "the" when referring to a specific, known position (e.g., "The chairperson called the meeting to order"). * It can be used as a title before a name (e.g., "Chairperson Smith"). * Direct address in a meeting is often simply "Madam Chairperson" or "Mr. Chairperson," or more formally, "Madam Chair" or "Mr. Chair."

Examples

• Formal Address: "All questions should be directed to the chairperson."
• Election/Appointment: "The board elected a new chairperson to serve a two-year term."
• Role Description: "The chairperson's duties include setting the agenda and moderating debate."
• Title: "I would like to thank Chairperson Garcia for her leadership."

Advanced Usage

• "To chair" (verb): The action of performing the role of a chairperson.
  • Example: "She will chair the finance committee meeting next week."
• "The chair": A common metonymic shortening used to refer to the position or the person occupying it, especially during meetings.
  • Example: "I appeal to the chair for a ruling on that point."

Variants and Related Words

• Chairman / Chairwoman: Gender-specific terms that are synonymous with "chairperson." "Chairperson" is preferred in modern usage for neutrality.
• Chair: A common and concise synonym for "chairperson," widely used in all contexts (e.g., "the chair of the department").
• Presiding Officer: A formal term emphasizing the function of leading a meeting, often used in parliamentary contexts.
• Moderator: A person who presides over a debate or discussion, similar to a chairperson but sometimes with a more focused role on facilitating exchange rather than organizational leadership.
• Convener: A person who calls a meeting together, who may or may not also chair it.

Synonyms

• Presiding officer
• Chair
• Head
• Leader (of a meeting/organization)
• President (in some organizational structures)

Antonyms

• Member
• Participant
• Attendee

Related Idioms/Phrases

• To take the chair: To assume the role of chairperson and begin a meeting.
  • Example: "The vice-president will take the chair in the chairperson's absence."
• To address the chair: To speak formally in a meeting by directing one's comments to the chairperson, a standard rule of parliamentary procedure.
  • Example: "Please remember to address the chair and not speak over other members."

Noun

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