noun

POTUS

POH-tuhs

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POTUS (noun) means the President of the United States, referred to by the initialism of the title. Example: “POTUS is due to land at Andrews just after nine.”

noun

The President of the United States, referred to by the initialism of the title.

"POTUS is due to land at Andrews just after nine."

"The account posts every public statement made by POTUS."

"It makes sense that ex-POTUSes don't tend to make it onto juries." — Gabrielle Bruney, Some Lucky Accused Criminal Could Have Obama on Their Jury (2017)

How to use POTUS

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishShort for the President of the United States.

When to use it

Originally staff, Secret Service and press shorthand; now widely used online, often with an edge of irony. Not used in formal address — you would never begin a letter 'Dear POTUS'.

Memory tip

It is pronounced as a word, POH-tuhs, not spelled out letter by letter.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

FLOTUS SCOTUS → VPOTUS

Common pairings

POTUS and FLOTUS the POTUS motorcade briefed POTUS POTUS account

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “POTUS” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ is due to land at Andrews just after nine.

Etymology

An initialism of President of the United States, from a family of abbreviations used in official and press shorthand alongside FLOTUS and SCOTUS.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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the President commander-in-chief

Related words

president

Rhymes for POTUS

Lotus SCOTUS

See all rhymes for POTUS →

Frequently asked questions

What do POTUS, FLOTUS and SCOTUS stand for?

POTUS is the President of the United States, FLOTUS is the First Lady of the United States, and SCOTUS is the Supreme Court of the United States. The vice president is sometimes called VPOTUS, though that one is much rarer in practice.

Is POTUS a formal title?

No. The formal style is 'the President of the United States', and in address it is 'Mr President' or 'Madam President'. POTUS is shorthand — convenient in security communications, headlines and social media, but out of place in official documents.

Does POTUS refer to the office or the person?

Usually the person currently holding it, as in 'POTUS approved the order'. It can shade into the office itself when writers talk about the powers of POTUS, but 'the presidency' is the clearer word for that.

What is the meaning of POTUS?

"POTUS" (noun) means the President of the United States, referred to by the initialism of the title.

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