cochairman: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal
Quick answer
What does “cochairman” mean?
A person who shares the role of chairman with another or others.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who shares the role of chairman with another or others.
One of two or more individuals who jointly preside over a committee, board, meeting, or organization, sharing the responsibilities and authority of the chairmanship.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely similar, though British English may show a slightly stronger tendency towards hyphenation ('co-chairman'). Both regions are moving towards gender-neutral terms.
Connotations
Connotes formal, often corporate or organizational hierarchy. Can imply a shared leadership structure, sometimes to balance power or represent different factions.
Frequency
More frequent in formal business, academic, and organizational contexts than in everyday speech. Declining in use due to push for gender-neutral language.
Grammar
How to Use “cochairman” in a Sentence
cochairman of [committee/organization]cochairman for [event/project]cochairman with [person]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cochairman” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was asked to cochairman the inquiry alongside her.
- They will cochairman the fundraising gala.
American English
- She agreed to cochairman the task force with him.
- They cochairmaned the committee for two years.
adjective
British English
- The cochairman role comes with significant responsibility.
- They discussed the cochairman position.
American English
- His cochairman duties kept him very busy.
- The cochairman appointment was announced today.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to shared leadership of a corporate board or merger committee.
Academic
Used for shared presidency of a conference or academic society.
Everyday
Rare; might be used in formal community group contexts.
Technical
Specific to parliamentary procedure or corporate governance.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cochairman”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cochairman”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cochairman”
- Using 'cochairman' for a female or mixed-gender pair (use 'cochair'). Misspelling as 'co-chairman' (variant) or 'cochairmen' for singular.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is grammatically correct but is now widely considered gendered and outdated. 'Cochair' or 'cochairperson' are the preferred, inclusive alternatives.
The standard plural is 'cochairmen'. However, if the group includes people who are not men, 'cochairs' is the correct and preferred plural form.
Yes, though it is rare and stylistically awkward. The verb form 'cochair' is far more common and recommended (e.g., 'They will cochair the event').
Both 'cochairman' (closed) and 'co-chairman' (hyphenated) are seen. The trend, especially in American English, is towards the closed form. For the modern term, 'cochair' is almost never hyphenated.
A person who shares the role of chairman with another or others.
Cochairman is usually formal in register.
Cochairman: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊˈtʃeəmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊˈtʃɛrmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to share the gavel”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CO(chair)MAN: Imagine two CO-workers sharing one big CHAIR, but they are both MEN (emphasizing the gendered, outdated aspect to remember the modern alternative).
Conceptual Metaphor
LEADERSHIP IS A SHARED BURDEN / AUTHORITY IS A JOINTLY HELD POSITION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST modern and preferred term for a shared chairmanship?