chancellor
noun
chan·cel·lor
ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər 
1
a
: the secretary of a nobleman, prince, or king
b
: the lord chancellor of Great Britain
c
British
: the chief secretary of an embassy
d
: a Roman Catholic priest heading the office in which diocesan business is transacted and recorded
2
a
: the titular head of a British university
b(1)
: a university president
(2)
: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education
3
a
: a lay legal officer or adviser of an Anglican diocese
b
: a judge in a court of chancery or equity in various states of the U.S.
4
: the chief minister of state in some European countries
Examples of chancellor in a Sentence
the new chancellor of the university
Recent Examples on the Web
Checks and balances The appeal to the DOJ advances similar concerns that Cornyn first raised in an August letter to Chief Justice John Roberts in his role as chancellor of the Smithsonian.
—
ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2025
The presentation by Robinson, who has been the university’s chancellor since 2022, centered on the record numbers the school has attained in the last six years and its goals as a land grant institution.
—Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
It was signed by Belichick; UNC vice chancellor Nathan Knuffman; and Hudson, who is listed as TCE Rights Management’s chief operating officer.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2025
As the school is searching for its next athletic director, vice chancellor for institutional integrity and general counsel Jesh Humphrey will oversee athletics.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chancellor
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ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2025
The presentation by Robinson, who has been the university’s chancellor since 2022, centered on the record numbers the school has attained in the last six years and its goals as a land grant institution.
—Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
It was signed by Belichick; UNC vice chancellor Nathan Knuffman; and Hudson, who is listed as TCE Rights Management’s chief operating officer.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 20 Oct. 2025
As the school is searching for its next athletic director, vice chancellor for institutional integrity and general counsel Jesh Humphrey will oversee athletics.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chancellor
Cite this Entry
“Chancellor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chancellor. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chancellor
noun
chan·cel·lor
ˈchan(t)-s(ə-)lər
1
: the chief minister of state in some European countries
2
: the head of a university
Legal Definition
chancellor
noun
chan·cel·lor
ˈchan-sə-lər
1
: the head of a chancery: as
a
: the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain
b
: a judge in a court of equity in various states
2
a
: a university president
b
: the chief executive officer in some state systems of higher education
3
: the chief minister of state in some European countries (as Germany)
Etymology
Old French chancelier royal secretary, from Late Latin cancellarius doorkeeper, clerk, from Latin cancellus latticework barrier
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