Rector

//ˈɹɛktɚ// name, noun

name, noun ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    In the Anglican Church, a cleric in charge of a parish and who owns the tithes of it.

    "It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers."

  2. 2
    a person authorized to conduct religious worship wordnet
  3. 3
    In the Roman Catholic Church, a cleric with managerial as well as spiritual responsibility for a church or other institution.
  4. 4
    A priest or bishop in the Orthodox Church who is in charge of a parish or in an administrative leadership position in a theological seminary or academy. uncommon
  5. 5
    In a Protestant church, a pastor in charge of a church with administrative and pastoral leadership combined.
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    A headmaster or headmistress in various educational institutions, e.g., a university.
  2. 7
    An official in Scottish universities who heads the university court and is elected by and represents the student body. Scotland
Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname from German. countable
  2. 2
    A placename, from the surname:; A city in Clay County, Arkansas, United States. countable, uncountable
  3. 3
    A placename, from the surname:; A ghost town in Shannon County, Missouri, United States. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A placename, from the surname:; An unincorporated community in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States. countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms
curateabbeabunaacademic deanadministrationadministrator

Example

More examples

"The ghost has been seen by several living members of my family, as well as by the rector of the parish, the Rev. Augustus Dampier, who is a fellow of King's College, Cambridge."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English rectour, rector, from Old French rector, rectour and Latin rēctor.

Etymology 2

Americanized form of German Richter.

Related phrases

lay rectormissionary rectorrector magnificuschurch personroman catholic

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.