rector

noun

rec·​tor ˈrek-tər How to pronounce rector (audio)
1
: one that directs : leader
2
a
: a member of the clergy (as of the Protestant Episcopal Church) in charge of a parish
b
: an incumbent of a Church of England benefice in full possession of its rights
c
: a Roman Catholic priest directing a church with no pastor or one whose pastor has other duties
3
: the head of a university or school
rectorate noun
rectorial adjective
rectorship noun

Examples of rector in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Anatoly Gerashchenko, the former rector to the Moscow Aviation Institute, died in an unspecified accident months earlier, according to a statement from the institute. Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024 During that time between 1964 and 1983, Gau was also rector and minister of the high school's Jesuit community. Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2024 Nor is Agnes happy about how well her spinster sister, Ada (Cynthia Nixon), is getting along with the church's friendly new rector, Luke Forte (Robert Sean Leonard). EW.com, 27 Oct. 2023 Something had sucked the air out of that place: at school functions, students did not breathe, and the teachers’ lounge featured enormous portraits of illustrious rectors, plus a gigantic one of a major naval battle. Hebe Uhart, The New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2023 Huggins bought them as a gift for his son Charles, a rector in Oxfordshire, and the books then passed to Charles Huggins' successor as rector, Dr. James Musgrave. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 13 Jan. 2023 Rodriguez, the associate rector at Grace Episcopal Church, said skyrocketing rents and housing prices meant that some families, including in his own congregation, were being forced to move farther away from the city. Teo Armus, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024 The hearing, on Zoom, included the university’s lawyer and the rector. Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2023 The sanctuary’s rector, Father Omar Raposo, agreed to pay for the projection if Swifties could collect 20,000 units of mineral water and panettone (sweet bread) to be donated to the needy. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rector.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, from regere to direct — more at right

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rector was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rector

Cite this Entry

“Rector.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rector. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rector

noun
rec·​tor ˈrek-tər How to pronounce rector (audio)
1
: a member of the clergy who has charge of a church or parish
2
: the priest in charge of certain Roman Catholic religious houses
3
: the head of a university or school

More from Merriam-Webster on rector

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