Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person or institution legally appointed to manage property or assets for the benefit of another person or group: A trustee is someone who holds and administers property or assets under a fiduciary responsibility.
   • A member of a governing board (e.g., for a school, charity, or foundation): A trustee serves on a board that oversees the management and policies of an institution.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The bank was appointed as the trustee for the children's inheritance.
  • She serves as a trustee on the university's board, helping to set its strategic direction.

Advanced Usage

• "In trust": A phrase describing property held by a trustee.
  • The estate is held in trust for the grandchildren until they turn 25.
• "Breach of trust": A failure of a trustee to fulfill their legal duties.
  • The lawyer was sued for a breach of trust after mismanaging the client's funds.

Variants and Related Words

• Trust (n): The legal arrangement or entity under which a trustee manages assets.
  • He set up a trust to manage his charitable donations.
• Trusteeship (n): The office, function, or term of a trustee.
  • Her trusteeship of the museum lasted ten years.
• Co-trustee (n): A person who serves as a trustee jointly with another.
  • The two siblings acted as co-trustees of the family foundation.

Synonyms

• Fiduciary: A person who holds a legal or ethical relationship of trust.
• Administrator: A person responsible for managing an estate or assets.
• Custodian: A person who has responsibility for or looks after something.

Related Phrases

• Board of Trustees: The group of people collectively responsible for governing an institution.
  • The board of trustees approved the new campus building plan.

Noun

1. members of a governing board
2. a person (or institution) to whom legal title to property is entrusted to use for another's benefit