Words / B1

CHAIRP-ursn/ˈtʃeəpɜːsn/

A chairperson leads a meeting or committee (gender-neutral). Chair is the everyday short form; chairman is older and male-marked (already in the dictionary). Address questions to the chairperson, not across the table.

Meaning

The person who leads a meeting or committee (gender-neutral).

Examples

• “Address questions to the chairperson, not across the table.”
• “Minutes say the chairperson closed the item, not “the chair person” as two casual words in formal papers.”

Good to know

a chairperson. Short: the chair. Older: chairman. Meetings / governors. Countable. Verb: chair a meeting.

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