1. Home
  2. /
  3. chairperson
  4. /
  5. What is the difference between chairperson and chairman?

What is the difference between chairperson and chairman?

What is the difference between chairperson and chairman?
Chairperson is a hypernym of chairman. As nouns the difference between chairperson and chairman is that chairperson is a chairman or chairwoman, someone who presides over a meeting, board, etc while chairman is a person (implied male) presiding over a meeting.

chairperson

English

Noun

(en-noun)

  • a chairman or chairwoman, someone who presides over a meeting, board, etc.
  • She was the chairperson of the board and she presided over the meeting .

    Usage notes

    In modern usage, terms like (chair), (moderator), (coordinator), (presiding) (officer), (group) (leader), (head), (facilitator), and so forth, are often preferred.

    Synonyms

    * chair
    * presiding officer, presider

    chairman

    Noun

    (chairmen)

  • A person (implied male) presiding over a meeting.
  • The head of a corporate or governmental board of directors, a committee, or other formal entity.
  • (historical) Someone whose job is to carry people in a portable chair, sedan chair, or similar conveyance.
  • * 1749 , Henry Fielding, Tom Jones , Folio Society 1973, p. 618:
  • Mr Western entered; but not before a small wrangling bout had passed between him and his chairmen ; for the fellows, who had taken up their burden at the Hercules Pillars, had conceived no hopes of having any future good customer in the squire […]
  • * 1836 , Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers ?
  • Mr. Winkle, catching sight of a lady’s face at the window of the sedan, turned hastily round, plied the knocker with all his might and main, and called frantically upon the chairman to take the chair away again.

    Usage notes

    Historically meant a man, now also used for women.

    Antonyms

    * chairwoman

    Hypernyms

    * chair, chairperson
    * presiding officer, presider