Presidential Meaning
/pɹɛzɪˈdɛnʃ(ə)l/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjPertaining to a president or presidency.
adjPresiding or watching over.
Sentence Examples
American politics are interesting to watch, especially during a presidential election.
He was being groomed as a presidential candidate.
Many countries favour a presidential system of government.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ election was held every four years in the United States.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ election attracted record voter turnout as citizens lined up at polling stations.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English president Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisder. Old French -ialder. Middle English -ial English -ial English presidential From president + -ial.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Take the New Right's full-throated embrace of protectionism and industrial policy. This romance with protectionism started in the 1990s with former GOP presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, gained enormous traction under former President Donald Trump, and is still going strong today."
— 2024 March 20, Veronique de Rugy, “The Political Right Has Luxury Beliefs, Too”, in Reason:
"I feel my age and supposed status mean I am permanently required to be in presidential mode. And I mean this in the old sense of “presidential”, meaning magnanimous, patient and generous, rather than in the modern sense of presidential, meaning being a corrupt, pussy-grabbing racist."
— 2016 November 20, Stewart Lee, “No more schmoozing with the enemy on TV shows”, in The Guardian:
"Seward was not trusted by Greeley, Phillips, Lovejoy, and the radicals of their complexion. They apprehended that after using the "American citizens of African descent," until he (Seward) should be safely seated in the Presidential chair, he would abandon the negro and "Tylerize" their Party; hence, they would not trust him"
— 1864, Thomas Jefferson Miles, To All Whom It May Concern:
"With the annual Presidential dinner to the Cabinet as a curtain-raiser, there is a short intermission—just one day—before the Diplomatic Reception, when it seems as if the White House becomes a setting for a Graustarkian novel, so bejeweled, besashed, beturbaned, and betiaraed are the guests."
— 1938 December 12, Derek Fox, “No “Grilled Millionaire” for Breakfast … White House Perks Up … Yule Gifts, Social Doings”, in The United States News, volume six, number fifty, Washington, D.C., page 2, column 4:
"When somebody points up a piece of statesmanship (as opposed to politicianship) in either man's record, there is always the rejoinder: "He has been planning his Presidential climb for many years. This was part of the strategy.""
— 1960, The Contemporary Review, volume 198, page 542:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ election was held every four years in the United States.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ election attracted record voter turnout as citizens lined up at polling stations.