chairperson

chairperson

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Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling and Syllable Breakdown:

Chairperson

/ˈtʃɛərˌpɜːrsən/ (General American: /ˈtʃɛərˌpɜrsən/)

• Chair-: /ˈtʃɛər/

• /tʃ/ - voiceless palato-alveolar affricate

• /ɛə/ - diphthong (as in "care" or "fair")

• /r/ - alveolar approximant

• -per-: /pɜːr/ (GA: /pɜr/)

• /p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive

• /ɜː/ - long open-mid central unrounded vowel (as in "bird" or "nurse") (GA: /ɜr/ - r-colored vowel)

• -son: /sən/

• /s/ - voiceless alveolar sibilant

• /ən/ - syllabic nasal (schwa + n)

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Word Form Variations

• Singular: Chairperson

• Plural: Chairpersons

• Possessive (singular): Chairperson's

• Possessive (plural): Chairpersons'

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

Chairperson

1. A person who presides over a meeting, committee, or organization. This individual is responsible for leading discussions, maintaining order, and ensuring that proceedings follow established rules. "Chairperson" is a gender-neutral term often preferred over "chairman" or "chairwoman."

• Synonyms: Chair, president, convener, moderator, head, director, presider, leader

• Antonyms: Member, attendee, participant, subordinate, follower, delegate

Verb

Chairperson (less common, usually "chair" is preferred)

1. (To act as) the leader or presiding officer of a meeting, committee, or discussion. While "chair" is the more common verb form, "chairperson" can be used to emphasize the role or position of the person performing the action.

• Example: "Who will chairperson the next session?" (Though "Who will chair the next session?" is more natural)

• Synonyms: Preside (over), moderate, lead, head, conduct, direct, officiate

• Antonyms: Participate, attend, observe, follow, assist

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "The chairperson opened the annual general meeting by reviewing the previous year's achievements and challenges." (Davies, M. Effective Board Meetings, 2022)

• "As chairperson of the departmental committee, Professor Anya was known for her ability to guide discussions to a consensus." (Chen, L. Leadership in Academia, 2019)

Newspapers:

• "The newly elected chairperson of the National Electoral Commission pledged to ensure transparent and fair elections." (The Daily Nation, July 3, 2025)

• "In a statement released yesterday, the chairperson of the local community group called for increased funding for youth programs." (The Standard Digital, July 2, 2025)

Online Publications:

• "Meet the chairperson driving innovation at our latest tech startup accelerator." (TechCrunch.com, June 28, 2025)

• "The United Nations appointed a new chairperson for the Human Rights Council, effective next month." (UN.org, June 25, 2025)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Television Show (Procedural Drama): "The chairperson of the ethics committee will review your conduct." (Dialogue in a courtroom or corporate drama, e.g., "The Good Fight," Season 5, 2021)

• Documentary: "Our film explores the challenges faced by the chairperson of the indigenous rights organization in negotiating with multinational corporations." (Guardians of the Earth, Documentary Film, 2023)

• Podcast (Interview): "Today we sit down with Dr. Elena Petrova, the esteemed chairperson of the International Climate Change Panel." (The Global Insights Podcast, Episode 112, July 1, 2025)

• LinkedIn Post: "Proud to announce my election as Chairperson of the XYZ Industry Association! Looking forward to serving our members. #Leadership #NewRole" (LinkedIn user post, June 20, 2025)

General Public Discourse:

• At a community meeting: "I'd like to thank our chairperson for keeping us on track tonight." (Spoken at a local town hall meeting, June 30, 2025)

• In a corporate setting: "The chairperson has just sent out the agenda for next week's board meeting." (Casual conversation in an office, July 1, 2025)

• During a debate: "The chairperson reminded the speakers to adhere to their time limits." (Observation of a moderated discussion, June 27, 2025)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Chairperson

1. "I believe the record will show that every decision I've made as chairperson has been in the best interest of the committee." (Attributed to various political or committee leaders in formal settings; illustrative quote)

2. "The first duty of a chairperson is to ensure that all voices are heard, not just the loudest." (Often heard in discussions about good meeting practices; original quote)

3. "As chairperson of this organization, I pledge to uphold its founding principles." (Common type of statement made by an elected head of an organization; original quote)

4. "The chairperson's gavel brought order to the chaotic proceedings." (Descriptive phrase in accounts of lively meetings; original descriptive quote)

5. "Our chairperson guided us through some incredibly tough decisions this year." (Testimonial about an effective leader; original quote)

6. "When you are the chairperson, you carry the weight of the whole group's consensus." (Reflective quote on the responsibility of the role; original quote)

7. "A fair chairperson ensures that debate is vigorous but always respectful." (Describing the ideal qualities of a meeting leader; original quote)

8. "The report was presented by the chairperson of the special investigative panel." (Common phrase in news or official reports; original quote)

9. "She became the first woman chairperson of the national sports federation." (Highlighting a significant achievement in leadership; original quote)

10. "The agenda was set by the chairperson well in advance of the quarterly review." (Practical description of a leader's organizational role; original quote)

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Etymology

The word "chairperson" is a relatively modern term, created as a more inclusive alternative to older, gender-specific titles.

Here's a simple breakdown of its origin:

• When it Appeared: The term "chairperson" first started to be used in English around the late 1960s to early 1970s.

• How it Was Formed: It's a combination of two older words:

• "Chair": This comes from the Old French word "chaiere," meaning "seat." In English, by the 17th century, "chair" also started to mean the "seat" or "position" of authority or leadership, especially in a meeting (think of the person sitting in the main chair).

• "-person": This is a neutral suffix that comes from the Old French word "persone" and ultimately from Latin "persona" (meaning "mask" or "character," then "individual"). This suffix was added to make words gender-neutral.

• The Reason for its Creation and First Meaning: Before "chairperson," the common terms for someone leading a meeting were "chairman" (for a man) or "chairwoman" (for a woman). As society became more aware of gender equality and language that might exclude or specify gender unnecessarily, there was a push for a single term that could refer to any person in that role, regardless of their gender. So, "chairperson" was specifically coined to be a gender-neutral alternative meaning "the person who presides over a meeting, committee, or organization."

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Chairperson

1. "To act as chairperson." (Common phrase: Describes fulfilling the role of a chairperson.)

2. "Elected chairperson." (Common descriptive phrase: Indicates how someone came to hold the position.)

3. "The chairperson's gavel." (Original phrase: Metaphorically represents the authority and power to maintain order in a meeting.)

4. "Chairperson for the day." (Lesser-known/Original phrase: Used when someone temporarily takes on the role.)

5. "Under the chairperson's guidance." (Original phrase: Highlights the leadership and direction provided by the chairperson.)

6. "A fair chairperson makes for a productive meeting." (Original proverb-like statement: Emphasizes the importance of good leadership in a meeting.)

7. "Chairperson of the board." (Common formal title: Specific high-level role within an organization.)

8. "Stepping down as chairperson." (Common phrase: Describes the act of resigning from the position.)

9. "The chairperson's report." (Common formal phrase: Refers to an official document or presentation given by the chairperson.)

10. "To be in the chairperson's seat." (Original idiom: Metaphorically means to be in a position of authority or leadership for a meeting or group.)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of chairperson from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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