cochair: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to Neutral. Common in professional, academic, and organizational contexts.
Quick answer
What does “cochair” mean?
One of two or more people who jointly preside over a meeting, committee, or event.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
One of two or more people who jointly preside over a meeting, committee, or event.
To serve jointly as the chair or presiding officer of an organization, committee, or event; the act of sharing this leadership role.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'co-chair' (with hyphen) is more common in British English, while 'cochair' (solid) is slightly more accepted in American English, though both forms exist in both varieties. The hyphenated form remains widely preferred overall.
Connotations
None. The term has identical functional connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in formal organizational contexts in both the UK and US. No significant frequency difference.
Grammar
How to Use “cochair” in a Sentence
to co-chair [committee/event]to serve as co-chair of [organization]appointed co-chairVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cochair” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She agreed to co-chair the working party with Dr. Evans.
- The ministers will co-chair the climate summit in Glasgow.
American English
- He's co-chairing the fundraising campaign for the new library.
- They were selected to co-chair the bipartisan committee on tax reform.
adverb
British English
- The role was performed co-chair (rare usage).
American English
- They led the committee co-chair (rare usage).
adjective
British English
- The co-chair arrangement proved very effective.
- They held a co-chair meeting prior to the main conference.
American English
- She has a co-chair position on the board of trustees.
- The co-chair model distributes the workload fairly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for shared leadership of committees, projects, or mergers. 'She will co-chair the integration team following the acquisition.'
Academic
Common for conference organizers, journal editors, or heads of research centres. 'Two professors were invited to co-chair the international congress.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might appear in community group contexts. 'We need two volunteers to co-chair the school fete committee.'
Technical
Used in parliamentary procedure and organizational bylaws to denote shared presiding officer roles.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cochair”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cochair”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cochair”
- Using 'vice-chair' instead of 'co-chair' (vice implies deputy, not equal).
- Incorrect verb form: 'He co-chairs the committee' (correct), not 'He is co-chair the committee'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'cochair' and 'co-chair' are correct. 'Co-chair' with a hyphen is more common, especially in British English, and is often recommended for clarity.
Yes. As a verb, it means to jointly preside over something (e.g., 'They will co-chair the event'). Its past tense is 'co-chaired'.
A 'cochair' shares equal leadership. A 'vice-chair' is a deputy who assumes the chair's role in their absence but is not an equal leader when the chair is present.
There is no fixed limit, but two is most common. Some large initiatives or events may have three or more cochairs representing different constituencies.
One of two or more people who jointly preside over a meeting, committee, or event.
Cochair is usually formal to neutral. common in professional, academic, and organizational contexts. in register.
Cochair: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊtʃeə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊtʃer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to share the gavel”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CO-pilot + CHAIRperson = COCHAIR. Two pilots share the cockpit; two chairs share the leadership.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEADERSHIP IS A SEAT (sharing the chair).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key implication of being a 'cochair'?