1. One appointed or elected to preside over an organized body of people, such as an assembly or meeting.
2. 1. The chief executive of a republic.
   2. The chief executive of the United States, serving as both chief of state and chief political executive.
3. The chief officer of a branch of government, corporation, board of trustees, university, or similar body.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praesidēns, praesident-, from present participle of praesidēre, to preside. See preside.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.