Presidency

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɛzɪdənsi/

Definitions

1. The office or period of time during which the chief executive of a nation, organization, or institution holds power and leadership authority
2. The role and duration in which an individual oversees the executive branch of a governmental body, organization, or institution while exercising leadership authority and decision-making power
3. The time frame in which the highest-ranking official of a state, organization, or institution operates, implementing policies and guiding its direction while holding leadership responsibility

Etymology: "Presidency" passed through Medieval Latin "praesidentia," a noun built from "praesidens," the present participle of "praesidere," meaning "to preside" or literally "to sit in front of" (from "prae," before, and "sedere," to sit). The Latin sense was about being in charge or in a position of protection, so the core idea of sitting at the front of a gathering runs through the whole family. The English word "president" came from the Latin participle and was used for a person at the head of an assembly long before any nation had a president. "Presidency" follows the same path: it names the office and the period of holding it, which is why the word can describe both a role and a term of years.

Synonyms: administration, leadership, tenure

Antonyms: subordination