chancellor
UK: ˈtʃɑːnsələ | US: ˈtʃænsələr
n. a high-ranking official in government or academia, such as the head of a university or a senior minister in certain governments
n. (historical) a senior secretary or record-keeper in medieval courts
The word "chancellor" traces back to the Latin cancellarius, originally referring to an official who stood near the cancelli (lattice barrier) separating the public from a judge or scribe in Roman courts. Over time, the term evolved in Medieval Latin to denote a high-ranking secretary or keeper of records. By the 12th century, Old French (chancelier) and Middle English adopted it for positions of authority, reflecting the role's expansion into governance and education. The morpheme chancel preserves the idea of a boundary (literal or symbolic), while -or marks the agent (the one who oversees).
The university chancellor announced new scholarships for international students.
In medieval England, the Lord Chancellor was the keeper of the royal seal.
Germany's federal chancellor holds significant executive power.
She aspired to become chancellor of the prestigious institution.
The chancellor mediated the dispute between faculty and administration.