noun
Uncommon
provost
PRO-vuhst
Provost (noun) means a senior official who heads a university, college, or cathedral chapter. Example: “The provost announced new funding for student scholarships.”
noun
1
A senior official who heads a university, college, or cathedral chapter.
"The provost announced new funding for student scholarships."
2
A senior military police officer, as in "provost marshal."
"The provost marshal was called in to investigate the incident on base."
3
Historically, a mayor or chief magistrate of a town, especially in Scotland.
"The provost of the burgh welcomed the visiting dignitaries."
How to use provost
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA senior official in charge — most commonly heard today as a top administrator at a university.
Common pairings
university provost
provost marshal
the provost of the college
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Word forms
- Plural
- provosts
- Third person singular
- provosts
- Past tense
- provosted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ announced new funding for student scholarships.
Etymology
From Old English profost, from Late Latin propositus/praepositus, "one placed in command" — via Anglo-Norman and Old French provost.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “provost” mean?
The word “provost” means a senior official who heads a university, college, or cathedral chapter. In plain terms, a senior official in charge — most commonly heard today as a top administrator at a university.
How do you pronounce “provost”?
“Provost” is pronounced PRO-vuhst (/ˈpɹoʊvoʊst/ in IPA).
How do you use “provost” in a sentence?
Here is “provost” used in a sentence: “The provost announced new funding for student scholarships.”
What is another word for “provost”?
Words with a similar meaning to “provost” include ruler, prepositus, steward, viceroy, governor and police officer.
What part of speech is “provost”?
“Provost” is a noun.
Where does the word “provost” come from?
The word “provost” comes from Late Latin. From Old English profost, from Late Latin propositus/praepositus, "one placed in command" — via Anglo-Norman and Old French provost.
Is “provost” a common word?
“Provost” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “provost” have?
“Provost” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a senior official who heads a university, college, or cathedral chapter.
